Drummer Randy Jones dies

British jazz drummer Randy Jones who played and stayed with Dave Brubeck Quartet since 1978 has died in New York City aged 72.

Published 4th Jul 2016

British born jazz drummer Randy Jones has died aged 72. 

Jones played with such jazz greats as Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Tony Bennett, Milt Jackson, Bill Watrous, Cleo Laine and Harry James. He joined the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1978 and stayed with the band ever since touring throughout North America, Europe and Japan.

When Canadian trumpeter and band leader Maynard Ferguson was signed by CBS Records in 1999 he went on to make his classic album series, five volumes of ‘M.F. Horn,’ all of which featured Randy Jones alongside British jazz musicians.

Jones was from Slough. He received immediate critical praise as soon as he moved to  New York City in 1972 where he lived for over 40 years. He was just as comfortable in a big band as he was in smaller ensembles and also played in the London Symphony Orchestra.