In 1947 he became the house drummer at Café Society in New York City, where he played with the leading bebop players of the day.
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For two years (1967–69) Jones taught at a specially organized school in Hampstead, London, but was prevented from otherwise working in the UK by the Musicians' Union.
Tom Jones | Joe Cocker | Tom Jones (singer) | Quincy Jones | Joe Louis | Indiana Jones | Norah Jones | Joe Henderson | Joe Satriani | James Earl Jones | George Jones | Joe Biden | Joe DiMaggio | Chuck Jones | John Paul Jones | G.I. Joe | Joe Frazier | Grace Jones | Joe Lovano | Fat Joe | Terry Jones | Edward Burne-Jones | Joe Dever | Inigo Jones | Joe Walsh | Catherine Zeta-Jones | Jim Jones | Hank Jones | Joe Manchin | Rickie Lee Jones |
The nickname was meant to distinguish him from the other people with similar names in the music business, such as R&B singer Joe Jones, jazz drummers "Papa Jo" Jones and Philly Joe Jones, and the Joe Jones of the Fluxus movement.
His music has also been featured on the albums of numerous other jazz greats including Cannonball Adderley, Donald Byrd, Eddie Daniels, Philly Joe Jones, Dino Saluzzi, and Tony Williams.
Graves has worked as a sideman and session musician with a variety of established jazz musicians throughout his career, including Don Pullen, Eddie Gomez, Andrew Cyrille, Rashied Ali, Kenny Clarke, Don Moye, Philly Joe Jones, John Zorn and Albert Ayler.
She has appeared in concerts as a featured performer alongside important figures in jazz, including Urbie Green, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Hank Jones, Roy Haynes, Philly Joe Jones, and Annie Ross.