Mike Jones (jazz musician)
Encyclopedia
Mike Jones, born August 11, 1962, has appeared onstage with Penn and Teller for the last seven years, and continues to play with them during their nightly show in Las Vegas
.
Mike first garnished praise as a young musician, performing professionally at the age of ten years old. Following the advice of Oscar Peterson, Jones attended Berklee School of Music, in Boston
. While still attending the school he started work as a studio musician.
During his time commuting from Boston to New York, Mike worked as the on air pianist and music director of the Nancy Merrill Show. He also appeared throughout the New England area with jazz musicians Herb Pomeroy, Gray Seargent, Dick Johnson,and others. In 1994 his first solo recording on Chiaroscuro Records
, "Oh, Look At Me Now" was released. This was followed by "Runnin' Wild" recorded live in Buffalo, NY, his hometown, and then "Live At Steinway Hall", in New York City.
Through his association with Hank O'Neal, Mike was invited to perform on the Floating Jazz Festival on the S.S.Norway and later, the Queen Elizabeth II
. The Verve reissue of Oscar Peterson's "On The Town" featured liner notes by Neil Tesser with extensive commentary by Mike. Penn Jillette
and his friends found him playing in a Las Vegas Resort, and were invited to the recording sessions for "Stretches Out", Mike's fourth solo CD for Chiaroscuro. In February 2002, he was invited to become part of the Penn & Teller show, and performs nightly with them at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino.
Mike wrote the theme tune for Penn Jillette's radio show Penn Radio
, including many variations. (Penn plays bass on many of these themes.) He also created some special themes for Monkey Tuesday, and Pull of the Weasel Friday.
Jones also made an appearance in an episode of Bullshit! which was critical of twelve step programs. Jones was introduced by Penn as having been significantly overweight, but lost ninety pounds with his "own special one step program", which Penn explained as being "like the twelve step, but with a few minor adjustments". Jones explained his program as "Just stop fucking eating so much".
His latest CD is "Live At The Green Mill" recorded with a trio, Kelly Sill on bass, and Tim Davis on drums,at the legendary Chicago jazz club.
Jones lives in Las Vegas
with his wife, author Cathe Jones. They have no children.
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
.
Mike first garnished praise as a young musician, performing professionally at the age of ten years old. Following the advice of Oscar Peterson, Jones attended Berklee School of Music, in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. While still attending the school he started work as a studio musician.
During his time commuting from Boston to New York, Mike worked as the on air pianist and music director of the Nancy Merrill Show. He also appeared throughout the New England area with jazz musicians Herb Pomeroy, Gray Seargent, Dick Johnson,and others. In 1994 his first solo recording on Chiaroscuro Records
Chiaroscuro Records
-Artists:*Nat Adderley*Howard Alden*George Barnes*Louie Bellson*Gene Bertoncini*Eubie Blake*Ruby Braff*John Bunch*Don Cherry*Buck Clayton*Eddie Condon*Johnny Costa*Kenny Davern*Wild Bill Davison*Lou Donaldson*Dorothy Donegan*John Eaton*Don Ewell...
, "Oh, Look At Me Now" was released. This was followed by "Runnin' Wild" recorded live in Buffalo, NY, his hometown, and then "Live At Steinway Hall", in New York City.
Through his association with Hank O'Neal, Mike was invited to perform on the Floating Jazz Festival on the S.S.Norway and later, the Queen Elizabeth II
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
. The Verve reissue of Oscar Peterson's "On The Town" featured liner notes by Neil Tesser with extensive commentary by Mike. Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early...
and his friends found him playing in a Las Vegas Resort, and were invited to the recording sessions for "Stretches Out", Mike's fourth solo CD for Chiaroscuro. In February 2002, he was invited to become part of the Penn & Teller show, and performs nightly with them at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino.
Mike wrote the theme tune for Penn Jillette's radio show Penn Radio
Penn Radio
Penn Radio was an hour-long talk CBS radio show which ran from January 3, 2006 to March 2, 2007, hosted by Penn Jillette and Michael Goudeau and produced by "Happy" Jack Landreth and Patrick DiFazio...
, including many variations. (Penn plays bass on many of these themes.) He also created some special themes for Monkey Tuesday, and Pull of the Weasel Friday.
Jones also made an appearance in an episode of Bullshit! which was critical of twelve step programs. Jones was introduced by Penn as having been significantly overweight, but lost ninety pounds with his "own special one step program", which Penn explained as being "like the twelve step, but with a few minor adjustments". Jones explained his program as "Just stop fucking eating so much".
His latest CD is "Live At The Green Mill" recorded with a trio, Kelly Sill on bass, and Tim Davis on drums,at the legendary Chicago jazz club.
Jones lives in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
with his wife, author Cathe Jones. They have no children.