American jazz pianist, bandleader and composer, born 31 July 1918 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA and died 16 May 2010 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He recorded over sixty albums under his own name, and countless others as a sideman. He was part of an in-demand rhythm section in New York City for years which was hired for hundreds (if not thousands) of diverse gigs, which included Milt Hinton, Barry Galbraith and Osie Johnson.
He received the NEA Jazz Masters Award and was also honored with the ASCAP Jazz Living Legend Award and the National Medal of Arts.
His brothers were trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Elvin Jones.