Boogaloo Joe Jones

Ivan Joseph Jones (born November 1, 1940), known professionally as Joe Jones or Boogaloo Joe Jones, is an American jazz guitarist.

Jones made his solo debut as Joe Jones on Prestige Records in 1967, but earned the name "Boogaloo Joe" following a 1969 record of that title. The nickname was meant to distinguish him from the other people with similar names in the music business, such as R&B singer Joe Jones, jazz drummers "Papa Jo" Jones and Philly Joe Jones, and the Joe Jones of the Fluxus movement. Later, he turned to billing himself as Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones.

Jones recorded several albums in a soul-jazz vein for Prestige between 1966 and 1978. In addition to leading his own group for recording purposes, Ivan Jones recorded with Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Houston Person, Harold Mabern, Wild Bill Davis and, most notably, Willis Jackson. Rusty Bryant, Charles Earland, and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie are among the sidemen also featured on Jones' albums.

His sound and style clearly derived from the blues, but it was a solid understanding of rock that Jones brought to his style of jazz. He was influenced most by Tal Farlow and Billy Butler, but gravitated toward the rhythm and blues jazz Butler was popularizing with organist Bill Doggett's popular group. Jones’ sound and style stayed remarkably consistent during his recording career. His twangy tone coupled catchy chordal vamps with astonishing rapid-fire single-note playing. He could handle familiar pop covers ("Light My Fire," "Have You Never Been Mellow") and ballads. But he really excelled in the jazz-funk groove and proved himself a first-rate blues player.

Jones has lived in South New Jersey most of his life and mostly worked in and around the Atlantic City area with chitlin circuit heroes like Wild Bill Davis, Willis Jackson and Charlie Ventura. Jones, who never won the notice of critics or great support from fans during his career, is finding new life on CD.

As leader

• Introducing the Psychedelic Soul Jazz Guitar of Joe Jones [AKA The Mindbender] (Prestige PR 7557, 1967; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1993)
• My Fire! More of the Psychedelic Soul Jazz Guitar of Joe Jones (Prestige PR 7613, 1968; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1993)
• Boogaloo Joe (Prestige PR 7697, 1969) -with Rusty Bryant, Sonny Phillips
• Right On Brother (Prestige PR 7766, 1970) -with Rusty Bryant, Charles Earland
• No Way! (Prestige PR 10004, 1970) -with Grover Washington Jr., Sonny Phillips, Butch Cornell
• What It Is (Prestige PR 10035, 1971) -with Grover Washington Jr., Butch Cornell
• Snake Rhythm Rock (Prestige PR 10056, 1972; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1992)
• Black Whip (Prestige PR 10072, 1973; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1992)
• Sweetback (Joka LPN 6007, 1975; reissued on Luv N' Haight/Ubiquity in 1995)
• Legends Of Acid Jazz: Boogaloo Joe Jones (Prestige, 1997) (compilation of Boogaloo Joe + Right On Brother)
• Legends Of Acid Jazz: Boogaloo Joe Jones, Vol. 2 (Prestige, 1998) (compilation of No Way! + What It Is)

As sideman

With Rusty Bryant

• Night Train Now! (Prestige PR 7735)

With Billy Hawks

• New Genius of the Blues (Prestige PR 7501)

With Richard "Groove" Holmes

• Spicy! (Prestige PR 7493)

With Willis Jackson

• Gatorade (Prestige MPP 2516, 1971 [rel. 1982])
• The Gator Horn (Muse MR 5146)
• Lockin' Horns (Muse MR 5200)

With Harold Mabern

• Greasy Kid Stuff! (Prestige PR 7764)

With Houston Person

• Soul Dance! (Prestige PR 7621)

With Sonny Phillips

• Sure 'Nuff (Prestige PR 7737)