Oliver Jones
Encyclopedia
Oliver Theophilus Jones (born on September 11, 1934 in Little Burgundy
, Montreal
, Quebec
) is a Canadian
jazz
pianist
, organist
, composer
and arranger
.
He began his career as a pianist at the age of five, studying with Mme Bonner in Little Burgundy's Union United Church
, made famous by Trevor W. Payne
's Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir
. However, for the most part, he developed his talent through his studies with Oscar Peterson
's sister Daisy Peterson Sweeney
. In addition to performing at Union United Church when he was a child, he also performed a solo novelty act at the Cafe St. Michel as well as other clubs and theaters in the Montreal
area. He toured with a band called the Bandwagon
while touring in the United States.
In late 1980 he teamed up with Montreal's Charlie Biddle
, working in and around local clubs and hotel lounges in Montreal. In fact he worked in and was resident pianist at Charlie Biddle's Jazz club, appropriately called Biddle's from 1981 to 1986. During the 1980s he was one of Canada's success stories amongst jazz musicians and has performed with Ranee Lee
.
He was travelling throughout Canada by the mid-1980s, appearing at festivals, concerts and clubs, either as a solo artist or with a trio: Skip Bey, Bernard Primeau, and Archie Alleyne. His travels also took him to Europe during this period.
In 1986 he won a Juno Award
for his album titled Lights of Burgundy and in 1989 he won the Félix Award
for his album Just Friends. He taught music at Laurentian University
in 1987, and in 1988 he taught music at McGill University
in Montreal
.
His tour of Nigeria
was the subject of a 1990 National Film Board of Canada
documentary, Oliver Jones in Africa. His music also appears in the NFB animated short film, Black Soul
. In 2011 he was one of the big names on the line up of the P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival at Charlottetown
.
Little Burgundy
Little Burgundy is the informal name of a neighbourhood in the Sud-Ouest borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Geography:...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
.
He began his career as a pianist at the age of five, studying with Mme Bonner in Little Burgundy's Union United Church
Union United Church
The Union United Church of Montreal is the city of Montreal’s oldest Black congregation. It was founded in 1907 by several members of Montreal’s Black community who experienced racial conflict and were banned from entering all-White churches. Union was started with a treasury of just $1.83...
, made famous by Trevor W. Payne
Trevor W. Payne
Trevor Winston Payne, CM, is a Canadian musician and member of the Order of Canada .He was born in Black Rock, Barbados, on the 21 December 1948. He became a Canadian citizen in 1982, the country he moved to in 1958. He and his family landed in the city of Montreal where he still resides today...
's Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir
Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir
The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir is a choir from Montreal, Quebec, Canada that sings primarily Gospel music.- Musical career :The choir was founded and directed by Trevor W. Payne in 1982 and gave its first performance at the St. James United Church in Montreal. The first members primarily...
. However, for the most part, he developed his talent through his studies with Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
's sister Daisy Peterson Sweeney
Daisy Sweeney
Daisy Peterson Sweeney is a Canadian music teacher, known for having taught many of the most notable figures in Canadian jazz music....
. In addition to performing at Union United Church when he was a child, he also performed a solo novelty act at the Cafe St. Michel as well as other clubs and theaters in the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
area. He toured with a band called the Bandwagon
Bandwagon
Bandwagon may refer to:* a wagon which carries a band of musicians in a parade or for promotional purposes. Other uses of the term derive from this one.* Bandwagon effect, "copycat" behavior...
while touring in the United States.
In late 1980 he teamed up with Montreal's Charlie Biddle
Charlie Biddle
Charlie Biddle, otherwise known as Charles Reed Biddle was a Canadian jazz bassist.-Biography:...
, working in and around local clubs and hotel lounges in Montreal. In fact he worked in and was resident pianist at Charlie Biddle's Jazz club, appropriately called Biddle's from 1981 to 1986. During the 1980s he was one of Canada's success stories amongst jazz musicians and has performed with Ranee Lee
Ranee Lee
Ranee Lee, CM is a Canadian jazz vocalist and musician who resides in Montreal, Quebec.Lee toured North America in the 1970s as a jazz drummer and tenor saxophonist. She subsequently landed a starring role playing Billie Holiday in Lady Day, and won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her performance...
.
He was travelling throughout Canada by the mid-1980s, appearing at festivals, concerts and clubs, either as a solo artist or with a trio: Skip Bey, Bernard Primeau, and Archie Alleyne. His travels also took him to Europe during this period.
In 1986 he won a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for his album titled Lights of Burgundy and in 1989 he won the Félix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
for his album Just Friends. He taught music at Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
in 1987, and in 1988 he taught music at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
.
His tour of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
was the subject of a 1990 National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
documentary, Oliver Jones in Africa. His music also appears in the NFB animated short film, Black Soul
Black Soul
Black Soul is a 2002 animated short by Haitian Canadian filmmaker Martine Chartrand that uses paint-on-glass animation and music to portray defining moments of Black history....
. In 2011 he was one of the big names on the line up of the P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival at Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
.
Discography
- Live at Biddle's 1983
- The Many Moods of Oliver Jones 1984
- Lights of Burgundy 1985
- FIJM 1985
- Speak Low, Swing Hard 1985
- Requestfully Yours 1985
- Cookin' at Sweet Basil 1987
- Just Friends 1989
- Northern Summit 1990
- A Class Act 1991
- Just 88 1993
- Yuletide Swing 1994
- From Lush to Lively 1995
- Have Fingers Will Travel 1997
- Just In Time 1998
- Then And Now 2002
- Just You,Just Me 2004
- One More Time 2006
- Second Time Around 2008
- Pleased to Meet You 2009
External links
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Oliver Jones
- http://www.justin-time.com/artists.php?lang=en&aid=283 Justin Time (label): Oliver Jones
- All About Jazz: review, Just in Time
- All About Jazz: review, Just You, Just Me with Ranee Lee
- Portrait of a musical life August 26, 2006 - Montreal Gazette