Welcome to Philadelphia Jazz Project
First Friday Rent Party - Tony Jones
Jun 13, 2016
First Friday Rent Party Series
July 1st, 2016 - 7:30PM | Tony Jones | Celebrating Georgia
Arch Street Meeting House
320 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great Migration: The historic period when millions of Black Americans left the South and moved to the Northeast, Midwest and West. This activity changed the country culturally, politically and socially.
PJP is partnering with the Arch Street Meeting House, celebrating this milestone with our First Friday Rent Party Series. The Rent Party was an invention of Great Migrationeers who sometimes faced low wages and high rents. Many found themselves having to pull together a plan to pay the rent. The plan was a house party with liquor, food, music and dancing, all with an admission price. The events happened weekly all over America, whereever these transplanted Southerners traveled. Our rent parties will showcase great music by artists like Sam Reed, Tony Jones, V. Shayne Frederick, Lili Añel and Chris Stevens, as well as feature a buffet of foods related to each state curated by Chef Valerie Erwin of Geechee Girl Restaurant.
Tony Jones aka Tony "TNT" Jones is a superb and versatile Philadelphia-bred, bassist and composer. He plays acoustic upright bass, as well as electric bass guitar. He plays Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Funk, Blues, and Jazz Fusion with the same intensity, artistry and wonder. Tony began his musical path at just five years old, playing around the neighborhood with a 12 piece percussion group. Soon, he found a love for the bass and began his life long relationship with the instrument. At 15 years of age, Tony Jones began to play with recording artists from Philadelphia International Records.
Since those early days, Tony Jones has traveled all over the world, performing and sometimes, living in cities like Istanbul, Cologne, Brussels, Rome, Madrid, Paris and others. He has performed or recorded with a diverse array of artists including Nina Simone, Billy Paul, and Grover Washington Jr., Sister Sledge, Sonny Stitt, Norman Connors, The Blue Notes, Buddy Guy, Red Rodney, Eartha Kitt, Larry Coryell, Pacquito d’Rivera, Taj Mahal, Angela Bofield, Esther Phillips, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Big Mama Thornton, Pharoah Sanders, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronnie Laws and others.
Bassist Tony Jones, will be our next featured artist celebrating the Georgia, for the First Friday Rent Party Series at the Arch Street Meeting House.
First Friday Rent Party Series
July 1st, 2016 - 7:30PM | Tony Jones| Celebrating Georgia
Arch Street Meeting House
320 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tickets for these special events are only $25 per party.
Free parking available - first come, first served.
Click Here To Purchase Tickets
PJP spoke with Tony Jones about his music and his approach.
PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical Direction
Tony Jones: At a very young age I learned different styles of music; from Classical to Gospel music. In school, I played clarinet in the orchestra and sang in glee club. There was a time in my professional career, where I got stuck playing R&B. Then I started learning about Jazz, Blues, and Jazz Fusion. As I began to hear different types of music, I became more open to all music.
PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach?
Tony Jones: I have to start off with James Brown. I used to try to dance like him. Then, there was Motown! Larry Graham was an innovator. He was the first to do "slap bass" on the electric bass. Other influences are Ron Carter, Ray Brown and Oscar Pettiford, who used to play with Duke Ellington. Pettiford was the first bass player to write bass melody and would solo. I would like to do a tribute to him. In general, I would say, I was influenced by musicians who were creative. Who were just being different and very good at it.
PJP: What’s so important about this project?
Tony Jones: This opportunity gives me the chance to reflect on how we all got here. We stand in the footprints of others. With their work and sacrifices, we now have platforms to do our music. To give the audience a chance to hear what we are trying to say. Music is life. This Great Migration project shows how culture and music has progressed in different ways, with every generation. Music changes because life changes!
PJP: How do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas, while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?
Tony Jones: All music is a projection of what you live, what you experience. It’s very simple! That’s how I create. Anything that is artistic comes from inside and is a projection of what you see on the outside.
PJP: When listening to your music, what advice would you give to audiences to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
Tony Jones: Don't prejudge! Listen and feel. Don’t judge by how people look. Judge the music by what you hear and how it makes you feel.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, why Jazz?
Tony Jones: Jazz, because you can improvise and it gives you a nice feel. As a musician you can really express your self. You never know what you are going to do! You can be more creative. With other genres you are limited.
First Friday Rent Party Series
July 1st, 2016 - 7:30PM | Tony Jones | Celebrating Georgia
Arch Street Meeting House
320 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tickets for these special events are only $25 per party.
Free parking available - first come, first served.
Click Here To Purchase Tickets
See you at the Rent Parties!
First Friday Rent Party Series produced by Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with Arch Street Meetinghouse.
Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Wyncote Foundation.
