Possibly THE sound of hard bop was produced by Philly Joe Jones, who was arguably on more jazz album sessions than any other drummer. This collection of eight albums (not all are on the Riverside and Atlantic labels) in various settings should serve as a starting point, and it’s a good place to start.
There are rarities like the enigmatic Third Stream collaboration between Jones and Paul Chambers/b (a favorite partner) with West Coasters Jack Montrose/ts, Bill Perkins/ts and Paul Moer/p teaming up with French Horn player John Graas for some clever chards like “Motif”, “Cannon Ball” and “Mood”. Jones’ debut as a leader (with the eerie cover) has him with Nat Adderley/ct, Julian Priester/tb, Johnny Griffin/p, Tommy Flanagan/p and Jimmy Garrison/b for some stretched out takes of “Fiesta” and “Ow”. A ’59 session has Jones delivering a bunch of solo work ,as on “The Tribal Message” on a large ensemble album with Wynton Kelly/p and Jimmy Garrison/b but starring Lee Morgan/tp and Cannonball Adderley on hip reads of “Stablemates” and “Cherokee”. A hard bop 1959 session is interesting for the fact that Jones plays piano as well as drums on a soft trio read of “Gwen”, while the team of Blue Mitchell/tp, Julian Priester/tb et all groove hard on “Battery Blues” and “Joe’s Delight”.
Next album has him with Atlantic Records, and with Bill Barron/ts, Walter Davis/p, Paul Chambers/b and Mike Downs/ct, he bops on “Two Bass H it”, “Salt Peanuts” and “That’s Earl, Brother”. A drum fest results when Elvin Jones sits in for a 1961 album that has just three songs-what did you expect? Can you tell who is who on “Beau-ty” and “Brown Sugar”? Whew!
Next comes possibly Jones’ most famous role as a sideman, with Miles Davis on a ’56 session of the “classic” team of Davis with John Coltrane/ts, Red Garland/p and Paul Chambers/b for a luscious “My Funny Valentine”, and hard driving “Airegin”, but every song is essential. Last is a trio led by pianist Kenny Drew with Chambers ,for a grooving “Blues For Nica” and elegant “It’s Only A Paper Moon”. Sticks from heaven.