Drummer "Philly Joe" Jones: "Blues For Dracula"

Tonight's Jazz Feature is our small celebration to Halloween as tonight is October 31st! Joseph Rudolph Jones aka "Philly Joe" a nickname he adopted to distinguish himself from the older Basie drummer Jo Jones. Philly Joe came to national fame as part of Miles Davis' "first great quintet" and became one of the most in-demand sideman and appeared on so many classic recordings in the 50s and 60s and beyond. He recorded some albums under his own name that may not be classics but are damn good! One of them is this date with tenor saxophonist fireball Johnny Griffin, trombonist Julian Priester and cornetist Nat Adderley who shines on this date. Tommy Flanagan is on piano and a young Jimmy Garrison is solid on bass. Four great tunes are featured for the band to stretch out on and the final fifth tune is called "Blues For Dracula". It's a slow blues with Philly Joe's voice overdubbed. Philly Joe does his best Bela Lugosi imitation and the slow blues turns into Blues For Dracula. Serious fun and a small tribute to Halloween. All in all a fine representative recording and a tribute to one of the most influential drummers in Modern Jazz.......Mr. Philly Joe Jones!