VICTOR JONES "BURNS THE SKINS" WITH YAMAHA DRUMS

—Acid Jazz Innovator Plays Maple Custom Vintage Kit—

BUENA PARK, CA (February 7, 2003)—When a conversation about jazz comes up, particularly regarding Acid Jazz (a unique blend of jazz, funk and hip-hop that appeared in the late 1980s), Victor Jones—one of the pioneers of that musical genre—is often mentioned. As one of the most prolific and eclectic drummers of today's jazz, Jones has contributed work on the 2000 GRAMMY™-nominated Michael Wolff album Impure Thoughts, and Yamaha artist Mino Cinélu's score for the 1997 Oscar-nominated documentary Colors Straight Up. A Yamaha drum artist since 1995, Jones plays a Yamaha Maple Custom Vintage kit.

Victor Jones

"I've played the Maple Custom Vintage for eight years," says Jones. "With those drums—for both the studio and in concert—it's easier to achieve a warmer, richer and more solid sound. In fact, engineers have commented on the sound I now have."

Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1954, Jones started his musical journey playing trumpet in the symphonic orchestra of the Elmwood Elementary School in East Orange. After 10 years of studying the instrument, he developed an intense interest in the drums as a result of seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.

While he continued to play the trumpet, the drums became Jones' true passion. As a teenager, he won several awards for outstanding musicianship, and in 1975, was discovered by jazz legend Lou Donaldson. This led to a string of prestigious gigs, including two years with Stan Getz's band, which garnered international exposure.

Jones has since toured and recorded with a variety of renowned artists, including Alex Foster, James Moody, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Phyllis Hyman, Stanley Turrentine, Masabumi Kikuchi, Michel Pettruciani, Dizzy Gillespie, Chaka Khan and Jimmy Scott.

Between tours with others artists, Jones formed his own group, The Victor Jones R&B Bop Band, which has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan. In 1995, he issued his first release under his own name on New Frontier Records, Visible Sound Groove. Created through the union of music and visual art by Tom Reyes, the album was inspired by the Acid Jazz musical movement, and boasts a distinguished lineup of session players assembled by Jones himself, including guitarist Barry Finnerty, saxophonist Alex Foster, trombonist Conrad Herwig and vibraphonist Joe Locke.

Jones' second New Frontier Records release was the 1998 Cafe Trio: Live at Bradley's in New York City, where he played drums with pianist David Kikoski and bassist Essiet Essiet.

After years playing as a sideman on over 100 releases, including film and production work, Victor Jones now emerges as a new breed of band leader. Victor currently works as house drummer in a newly refurbished New Jersey studio, owned by platinum- and gold-selling producer, songwriter Joshua Thomson (Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin). His latest album, Culturversy, a self-titled album from his newly-formed band, is due out in the Spring of 2003.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/drums.