Back in the 50's, celebrated saxophonist J.J. Jones(Jesse James Jones) often recorded under his own name, but like many great musicians Jones gained his reputation as a sideman. Working with some of the best pop singers of the day including, Sam Cooke, B.B King, Big Joe Turner, Lou Rawls, Barry White, and Chuck Willis to name a few, Jones was considered to be one of the most influential saxophone players of the day. He remembers back in 1953 when he had to calm down an anxious blues singer by the name of B.B. King making his debut in Atlanta.

Working professionally at the age of 17 playing with various stage show bands on the "Chittlin Circuit," Jones came to prominence in the 50's amidst a plethora of great horn players like Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Wynton Kelly, Earl Bostic, Sil Austin, and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. Jones led the great Jimmy Witherspoon band, and got to play along side Ornette Coleman one night, and back up superstar singers the next. He worked with such Little Richard, Billy Wright, Willie Mae, and "Big Mama" Thornton
among many others.

J.J. has a real thing for the Selmer saxophone. He says: "It's the best horn ever made and the only one I've ever played. Selmer is like driving a Rolls Royce instead of a Ford." Selmer did turn out to be the only instrument that J.J. to this day, would ever play.