Episode 891: Mike Jones - Jazz Pianist And Musical Director For Penn & Teller, Iconic Magic And Comedy Duo! - Follow Your Dream - Music And Much More!

Mike Jones aka Jonesy is a jazz pianist and the music director and opening act for Penn & Teller, the iconic comedy and magic duo. He says he’s played the Great American Songbook for more people each year than any jazz pianist in the world. This is because, as music director for Penn & Teller all around the country he plays standards in the “warm-up” hour – and during and between the onstage magic – for the millions of visitors who attend the show.

My featured song is my reimagined version of Miles Davis's "All Blues”, from my debut album. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH MIKE:
www.jonesjazz.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. I'm Walking (24:13) — from the Penn & Teller pre-show, live this past March. Fats Domino / Monty Alexander lineage; a song that brings the magic-show audience in.

2. Gone with the Wind (26:35) — drummer-less trio, 2022, with Graham Dechter (guitar) and Alex Frank (bass), from the living-room sessions that became Mike Jones with Strings (Capri Records).

3. Exactly Like You (29:01) — solo piano, 2018, a tribute to Dave McKenna, heard at the Copley Plaza in Boston while Jonesy was at Berklee.

4. September Song (31:43) — trio, his first record for Capri Records, with Jeff Hamilton and a bassist standing in for John Clayton, in a Gene Ammons-style two-beat shuffle.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:20 — Interview begins: growing up in Buffalo, Western New York, two player pianos in the house, lessons from age five, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum

- 6:00 — The Beatles moment: jazz and rock need not be one or the other

- 9:37 — Berklee years in Boston and the gigs that shaped his playing

- 18:08 — Joining Penn & Teller, 25 years into their act, and Penn learning upright bass for the pre-show hour

- 21:04 — Broadway in 2015, playing the entire show alone, and the Rio run, now four nights a week

- 33:44 — Wrap-up and thanks

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