Not to be confused with the prolific pianist, arranger, and composer of the same name, vintage jazz bassist Jimmy Jones played together with soprano saxophonist and clarinetist Sidney Bechet in the large ensemble known as Noble Sissle's Swingsters. This outfit was active recording for close to a decade beginning in the late '20s, cutting delightful sides such as the lonely All By Yourself in the Moonlight and Basement Blues (promoted as "low-downer than any low-down blues"), which had to be an assignment of choice for any bassist worth his stuff.

Bechet approved of Jones' way around a bassline, making use of him in his New Orleans Feetwarmers group during the '30s. These recordings represent both an essential and fat chunk of Jones' larder of recorded sides. Also of much interest are the early tracks made by determined vocalist Lena Horne, in this case featuring Jones fiddling with another low yo-yo, the baritone sax. Another musician that he is not is the Texan sometimes credited as James Famous Jones, who shows up on blues, gospel, and country projects beginning a few decades later. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi