Willie Jones III is one of the most respected and in-demand drummers in modern jazz. A dynamic bandleader and sideman, he has spent decades performing at the highest level across the global jazz scene.
Jones gained international recognition as a longtime member of trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s acclaimed quintet, as well as a driving force in Hargrove’s electrifying RH Factor. He has also performed and toured with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis, and has shared the stage with legends including Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, and many more....
read more
Willie Jones III is one of the most respected and in-demand drummers in modern jazz. A dynamic bandleader and sideman, he has spent decades performing at the highest level across the global jazz scene.
Jones gained international recognition as a longtime member of trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s acclaimed quintet, as well as a driving force in Hargrove’s electrifying RH Factor. He has also performed and toured with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis, and has shared the stage with legends including Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, and many more.
A prolific recording artist and entrepreneur, Jones founded WJ3 Records in 2000. The label has since released over 18 recordings, showcasing both his own work and that of leading voices in contemporary jazz. During the pandemic, he continued to push creative boundaries, self-producing and releasing four projects between 2020 and 2021.
In August 2021, Jones headlined Central Park SummerStage with Willie Jones III: Celebrating the Charlie Parker Centennial, further solidifying his reputation as a premier artist and bandleader.
As a leader, his recordings—including Fallen Heroes (2021), My Point Is... (2017), Groundwork (2015), and The Willie Jones III Sextet Plays the Music of Max Roach (2013)—have received widespread critical acclaim, with praise from outlets such as The New York Times.
Beyond the stage, Jones is deeply committed to education and mentorship. Since 2009, he has served as Professor of Drum Set at Northwestern University and continues to lead masterclasses and workshops worldwide.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Jones studied at the California Institute of the Arts under NEA Jazz Master Albert “Tootie” Heath and was a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drum Competition.
Band Lineup:
Willie Jones III, drums
Jeremy Pelt, trumpet
Tyler Bullock II, piano
Mike Gurrola, bass
show less
