Willie Jones III, influenced by the rich soulful energy of the West Coast bop movement, Black Note's hardswing sound propelled them to first place in the prestigious John Coltrane Young Artist Competition in 1991. Jones contributed his skillfulness as both musician and producer on all four Black Note recordings: 43rd & Degnan and L.A. Underground (World Stage Records), Jungle Music (Columbia) and Nothin' But the Swing (Impulse!). By 1994, the band had toured Europe and across the U.S. and was the opening act for Wynton Marsalis. Near the end of 1994, while Jones was reaching for a higher level of drumming dexterity, he gained the privilege of playing sideman to the renowned vibist Milt Jackson, where Jones learned the importance of pacing and sensitivity. Meanwhile, his musical career continued to unfold. From 1995 through 1998, he was a member of Arturo Sandoval's band and is featured on Sandoval's GRAMMY® award winning release Hot House (N2K). Subsequently, Jones recorded with Horace Silver on Jazz Has a Sense of Humor (Impulse!). From 19982005, Jones was a member of Roy Hargrove's Quintet and is featured on Roy Hargrove's CD releases on Verve: Moment To Moment, Hard Groove, Nothing Serious and RH Factor's Distractions. Jones can be heard on a host of recordings including Kurt Elling's GRAMMY® nominated Night Moves (Concord) and Eric Reed's Here (Max Jazz). Jones has worked with Sonny Rollins, Ernestine Anderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wynton Marsalis, Cedar Walton, Frank Wess, the Dizzy Gillespie AllStar Big Band, Houston Person, Billy Childs, Eric Reed, Ryan Kisor, Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock and Hank Jones. He has 8 albums as a leader. Jones' latest release “Fallen Heroes” (2022) and he has his own label WJ3
Alto saxophonist Justin Robinson was born August 14, 1968, in Manhattan. He first picked up a horn at the age of 13, and honed his sound while attending the High School of Music and Arts (LaGuardia High School) in New York. Robinson developed a passion for the alto sax and, from the influences of Charlie Parker and Jackie McLean, crafted his own distinctive sound. Robinson has collaborated with eminent artists such as the Harper Brothers, Cecil Brooks III, Abbey Lincoln, Diana Ross, Little Jimmy Scott, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Band, and most recently, The Roy Hargrove Big Band in addition to the Roy Hargrove Quintet. Justin Robinson wields a hefty portfolio: joined Harper Brothers at 18, debuted on Verve at 22, a decade's-worth of star sideman gigs. All of that hang-time paid off with his 1998 recording The Challenge on Arabesque Records. Penning six of the compositions, selecting an inspired posse of young ringers (Ron Blake, tenor sax; Stephen Scott, piano; Dwayne Burno, bass; Dion Parsons, drums), Robinson also produced the whole shebang. Robinson also released as a solo artist Justin Time in 1991 with Verve Music Group label. It was produced by Bobby Watson, who also appears on the recording, in additon to Gary Bartz, on alto saxophones, and includes more young ringers of that time: Eddie Henderson - trumpet; Kenny Barron, Stephen Scott - pianos; Peter Washington - bass; Lewis Nash - drums. Justin Robinson lives in New Jersey and is currently touring with trumpeter Roy Hargrove.
Sebastian Chames is a pianist who belongs to the new generation of jazz musicians in Spain. He has completed his musical training in New York with Rodney Kendrick, Bruce Barth, Barry Harris and Fred Hersch, among others. In 2008 he released his first album “Primera Toma” as a band leader. In 2013, Chames released his second album “Reconstrucción” featuring an outstanding line up: Jeremy Pelt – trumpet, Justin Robinson - alto saxophone, Dwayne Burno - bass and Willie Jones III- drums; in 2015 he recorded his third album “Pick Up the Phone” with Jeremy Pelt – trumpet, Greg Tardy - tenor sax; Gerald Cannon- bass, and Willie Jones III- drums. In, 2019, “Reminiscing the Unknown Masters”, featuring Steve Nelson, vibraphone, Curtis Lundy Bass, and in addition Tardy and Jones. Chames albums were all recorded in New York and received rave reviews by the specialized Spanish press (Diario Abc: “…Chames is confirmed as one of the pillars of "New Jazz" made in Spain” Diario el Mundo: “Tradition and innovation are united in the music of Sebastián Chames”). He currently leads his quintet which regularly plays in clubs and festivals throughout Europe featuring an extraordinary line up of musicians such as Jeremy Pelt, Steve Nelson, Willie Jones IIII, Greg Tardy, Perico Sambeat, Victor Jones, Curtis Lundy, Bobby Watson among others.
