Calvin "Fuzz" Jones

b. 1926, Greenwood, Mississippi, USA. While still a child, Jones learned to play violin and in later years moved on to the acoustic bass and the bass guitar. For several years, he played in the group backing Muddy Waters and after the leader’s death he teamed up with Waters’ drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith in the Legendary Blues Band. With this group, Jones also contributed vocals. He also played as a member of the Howlin’ Wolf Tribute Band. With these bands he can be heard on Telarc Records’ A Salute To The Chicago Blues Masters issued in 2000. On all tracks on the first of the three albums that make up this CD box set, Jones is with the Legendary Blues Band. Another traditionally inspired blues band with which Jones has played is the Jelly Roll All-Stars, with Arthur Williams (vocals/harmonica), Bob Lohr (piano), Jesse Hoggard (guitar), and Sam Carr (drums). Jones has also played on numerous recording dates behind leading artists in jazz and blues, including Cassandra Wilson, on her 2002 version of J.B. Lenoir’s ‘Vietnam Blues’. He also recorded with Mississippi Heat, and can be heard on the group’s 1993 recording Straight From The Heart, singing ‘Ruby Mae’, which was composed by guitarist Billy Flynn for Jones’ wife, Ruby Mae Jones. (NB: Not to be confused with the jazz artist of the same name.)