After his musical training at Cambridge, where he studied piano under Philip Mead, a concert pianist and composer, Dave went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, in 1985. There he received tuition in harmony and jazz piano from Lionel Grigson. Soon after, he began a musical career. This included recording sessions at Maida Vale Studios, London, for BBC Radio 2 programs hosted by Dave Gelly (jazz critic and author) as well as Digby Fairweather (jazz connetist, author) in the jazz-funk group ‘706″. He also performed with the same band at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during a two-week residency. Dave was no stranger to the studio. He oversaw the digital audio restoration and recording of many recordings. These recordings included historical and contemporary music, as well as jazz, classical and pop songs. This was for the new market that was emerging in CD sales during the 1990’s. Many of the top jazz musicians he accompanied included Jim Mullen and Mornington Lockett and Dick Pearce. He also played regularly at the Soho International Jazz Festival and other venues throughout London, East Anglia and the South East. He released his debut CD “Have You Met Mr. Jones?’ (PARCD507), produced by drummer/percussionist Robin Jones, which was launched at the Pizza Express Dean Street Jazz Club – “Dave Jones has a fine technique, rhythmic assurance and a straight-ahead style which makes him a very accomplished pianist indeed.” (John Pearce, jazz pianist). While completing an MA in performance and composition, Dave produced a second album in 1999 at the Gateway Recording Studios, Kingston. He was joined by bassist Herbie Flower. Dave became involved in music education at the institutional level. He taught courses in A Level Music Technology and Music Technology. He also directed student jazz groups, sometimes in a workshop setting. He earned a PGCE(PCET) teaching qualification. This allowed him to design, write, and deliver music degree courses until 2015. When he decided to focus on freelance work. He has been accompanied by Steve Waterman, Dave O’Higgins and Karen Sharp since 2003. His own trio has supported the award-winning saxophonist Simon Spillett . “I was lucky to work with the trio that included pianist Dave Jones, who is a musician of formidable talents.” (Simon Spillett Jazz UK Oct/Nov 2011. Dave released his highly acclaimed “Impetus” (DJT003) trio album in London’s Vortex Jazz Club. The music highlights his work as a composer within a piano trio context. Jones is a vigorous, elegant pianist. His ballads are appropriately lyrical and his tone glowing and burnedished. He also draws powerful solos from his more upbeat material. Overall, a highly enjoyable album by a vibrant and sensitive band. (Chris Parker on The Vortex website, 12/12/2008). The highly-acclaimed album ‘Impetus” (DJT004) was released in 2010. It was inspired by Parker’s 2009 visit to Washington DC to perform at Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It featured a new trio, augmented with saxophones and string quartet. Dave Jones, Port Talbot’s extraordinary pianist, was selected as Jazz CD of Week by the London Evening Standard. “…He also composes soulful originals, and scores them skillfully for horns or occasional strings.” Jack Massarik. 13/08/2010. The 2012 album, “Resonance” (DJT005), was the result of his growing interest in composition and arranging for larger ensembles. It received considerable media attention through numerous excellent reviews and airtime on Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s Jazz FM’s JazzFM’s The Cutting Edge’. The catchy opener, “The Metro”, could be the score to a French thriller …” (Phil Johnson The Independent, Sunday, Sunday, 29/07/2012). Jazz Journal magazine published a profile on Dave’s work in jazz in November 2012. It featured “… swinging post Blue Note tunes that “exemplify musical logic, integrity, and effective variation.” (Mark Gilbert Jazz Journal Nov 2012). In the following months, Dave began writing for Jazz Journal. These included CD and Book reviews and articles. Dave was a member of the jazz-folk group ‘Burum’ and performed at the Lorient Interceltique Festival 2013. He will be returning in August 2017 to play the Model D Steinway grand pianist. In 2014 and 2015, Dave toured India with the same band and gave workshops at the Global Music Institute, New Delhi. The formation of Khamira, a new ensemble featuring members of ‘Burum’ and top Indian musicians led to the creation of Khamira. In 2017, they toured the UK, selling out every performance, including the Hay Festival of Literature and The Arts’ final show. Their debut album has received excellent reviews – “…with tender lyrics, as exemplified in Jones’s quiet, magical piano meditations …”. (Michael Tucker Jazz Journal). In recent years, he has performed and recorded in Ireland with Kevin Lawlor, a Wexford jazz drummer, educator, and musician. He appeared at festivals in Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny as well as at arts centres in Wexford. “Jones is not a stranger to the Wexford Arts Centre audience. His contributions were always measured, thoughtful, and thoughtful,” (Jackie Hayden, music marketer and writer who signed U2 their first record deal. The new album, Postscript (DJT007), was released in 2016 by Dave and longtime collaborator, the virtuoso bassist Ashley John Long. It received great reviews. “Jones’s strands are not obsessive but an essential ingredient is that he has a winsome touch at the keyboard and swings effortlessly when needed” (Mark Gardner, Jazz Journal). The Dave Jones Quartet recorded the album KeyNotes (DJT008) early 2017. A slightly different line-up was formed with Ben Waghorn (tenor sax) and Jones, who also enjoyed the Fazioli grand piano at Fieldgate Studios. Already the album has received great reviews. “The theme-writing is memorable as one would expect from a successful TV and film composer. The playing has a muscular and rolling intensity that puts Jones in mind of McCoy Tyner.” Robert Shore, Jazzwise… “Key Notes is a great album.” Jones has assembled an impressive quartet” (Mike Collins of London Jazz News). “… Just listen to how Jones transforms his melancholy opening theme in a solo that creates a formidable head full of steam. (Simon Spillett, 2017). Dave recently had considerable success with his composition work for TV, film and television. His tracks were used on the hit US sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”, the talk-show “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in the US, as well as in a Mexican drama called “Las Aparicio” and in the UK’s “Location. Location. Location”. Many new media tracks will be released by The Gold Leaf Music Library in 2017, including eight solo piano pieces. He also plans to publish a book called The Classical Tinge in Jazz, which is based on his articles for Jazz Journal. http://www.davejonesjazz.com
