The Ron Jones Quartet goes One Step Up with
A Vision of Beauty

By Hazel Plummer
The Community Voice in Lexington, KY

Louisville's Ron Jones is a very talented professional musician, music instructor and highly respected member of the Louisville jazz community. He is also a former member of the renowned Florida A&M University's (FAMU) "Marching 100." Jones recently released his debut CD, Ron Jones Quartet - A Vision of Beauty. The name Sharon means a vision of beauty, Jones wrote the title track for his CD two years ago for his wife Sharon. Sharon Jones is an elementary school Assistant Principal, former special education teacher and a lover of music.

Jones mentioned that when he first began to think of concepts for his CD cover, he thought of using One Step Up as the title of the CD. "Initially I thought the CD cover would picture the band going up the steps of Louisville's Kentucky Center for the Arts but, James (famed jazz pianist, James Williams) would have had some problems with his record company if his picture appeared on the cover of my CD." This tune is one of three terrific pieces that Ron Jones wrote on his II track disc.

Going back to the drawing board Jones says, 'I thought this would be a great way to pay tribute to my wife. She loves jazz, she's my best friend, she has supported me in all my endeavors, everything we do we do as a joint partnership, and the band was going to record A Vision of Beauty." The saxophonist appears on the cover of his new CD with his beautiful wife Sharon admiring a shiny new saxophone that Jones said he had recently purchased.

A Kentucky native, the saxophonist received a full music scholarship and graduated Cum Laude from FAMU in 1980. His resume is filled with a variety of prestigious gigs that include Lionel Hampton, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, The Temptations, the Louisville Orchestra and many others. Jones said, "For a long time people were asking me when was I going to record. I waited until I was musically, mentally and financially ready to record. I'm very pleased with the finished product. The artwork, the sound of the CD is excellent. I recorded at Falk Recording Studio, in Louisville (July 29th and 30th, 1997). My recording engineer, Tim Haertell, did a great job."

Ron Jones put together a very tight quartet for his debut recording. James Williams, on piano, is internationally known and very much in demand as a musician. Jones stated that he was able to recruit Williams for his recording based on both musicianship and friendship. He had worked with James Williams through the highly acclaimed Jamey Aebersold Jazz Summer Camps. Through that relationship they also developed a friendship. "I would correspond with him and back in August of '96 I asked him about playing on my first CD, and his response was very positive." Jones did his homework, researched, practiced, wrote arrangements, sorted through the problems of distribution, finances, tune selection, etc. He called Williams back in March '97 to set the recording date.

The other members of the band are bassist Tyrone Wheeler, a friend of Jones since age 14. They have played together on and off for a long time. "Our musical bond is very strong and we both like to groove and swing, said Jones. Terry O'Mahoney, the drummer, is a long time acquaintance of Jones. "Like Tyrone, Terry plays with a great feel and tremendous conviction," Jones said.

There are many gems to be heard on The Ron Jones Quartet (RJQ) recording. On the first track, One Step Up Jones says, "It's a 20 bar tune with an extra 8 bars added to it, I just play over a 12 bar blues where I can stretch out harmonically." It works for my ears. There are standards that we know, like Cheek to Cheek, Try a Little Tenderness and Black Nile. They all are very creative and engaging arrangements by Jones. Jones' favorite track on his band's CD is One for Julian. "I like the groove, everyone swings and I wrote it for my favorite saxophone player Mr. Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (of the famed Cannonball Adderley Quintet). Adderley had passed away by the time Jones became a student at FAMU. Cannonball and his brother Nat are famous jazz alumnus who also went to FAMU. However, Jones did have the opportunity to meet and play with Nat Adder1y as well as meet their parents.

"Being a member of "The Marching l00' at FAMU (a historically black college) was an honor and a privilege. It was the most unique organization that I have ever been involved with. In high school you could be labeled a nerd for being in the band. But at FAMU you were a celebrity on campus if you were in the band. We were as popular as the football players. We got to travel and stay in the best hotels. It was great to be a part of that.

Ron Jones' next big gig is the Louisville Black Achievers Awards Banquet. Jones said, "It's a great ceremony to be a part of." He concluded by saying he would like to see more people support and listen to jazz. "It (jazz) was started in the black community, if it's something you don't know about you need to learn. Go out and buy Charlie Parker, Miles Davis CD… etc. and listen. There is nothing wrong with commercial jazz; Kenny G… but that's not what the great musicians played." Finally Jones said, "I don't care who I play for, but it would be nice to see some brothers and sisters enjoying this music.

Ron Jones on occasion brings his "Hot Licks Cool Jazz" to The Coach House in Lexington on South Broadway, but until that time get his CD, it's the next best thing.