Published in the Jan. 8, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
One thing about Morgan Hill is that it has a certain quietness and energy that acts as a conduit to take quality musicians to the next place. Such is the case with Polo Jones. Jones is not only a high quality bass player but he is also a top producer and recording engineer who has gained the utmost respect by many of his peers in the Bay Area and throughout the world.
Polo Jones in his home studio.
Like many great musicians, a parent’s influence is often what helps shape a love and passion for music. In this case, both his parents were professional musicians. His father moved to California and settled in Oakland as a touring member of the Charlie Parker band. His mother was a vocalist groomed on a record label with the likes of Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan.
Polo started playing music at a very early age and landed his first gig as back up bassist with John Lee Hooker and the Coast-To-Coast Blues Band. He soon joined up with Robert Hooker in the early 1970s (John Lee’s son) which led him to a spot with Larry Graham (Sly & the Family Stone, Graham Central Station) in a band called Hot Chocolate. From there he worked with Edwin Hawkins and recorded on Clifford Coulter’s debut album.
Early on Jones had a good ear for sound and did the sound for local favorite Uncle Rainbow, quickly building a reputation of being a really good sound guy. This led him to more sound gigs in the early ‘80s. In 1983 he got a job at the Saddle Rack running the lights. One day the sound engineer was sick so Polo stepped in and the owner loved his sound. He was hired and ran the system from 1984 to 1998. When the Saddle Rack moved he designed the stage and sound system and then put together the house band “Appaloosa” which had a great run.
One day a call from producer Corrado Rustici led him to an audition with Narada Michael Walden to replace bassist Randy Jackson. He got the gig which put him on a project called Holiday of Hands an alternative progressive rock band. This turned into a trip to Italy to record a record with then unknown Zucchero. This opened his door to opportunities to work with Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Andrea Boccelli, Sting, Ray Charles, Santana, Herbie Hancock and many others. Jones says “lots of it is being in the right place at the right time and being able to deliver the goods when that time comes.”
Jones has been touring the world and recording with Zucchero ever since.
Jones moved to Morgan Hill about six months ago because as he puts it “I needed a place to write that had character and a nice downtown scene.” He just felt like he needed a place to start over and produce good music, a place to “re-birth” and Morgan Hill was that place. From his bedroom music studio you can look out and see the beauty of the hills and valley.
His home is the perfect place to have “house concerts” and Jones said the intimacy and surroundings bring out a certain energy from a musician that just doesn’t happen anywhere else. His first house concert was a huge success featuring world renowned guitarist Peppino Augustino. Jones has plans for many more house concerts in the months ahead.
Jones owns Media Entertainment Music Group Productions which develops young local bands. He has everything in place to record bands here in Morgan Hill.
From live recording to teaching how to perform and develop stage presence and skills. Jones is set to pass on his years of experience. So if you have a band that wants to grow and get ahead and maybe end up in the right place at the right time, give Jones a call (408) 781-1275.
