Born in 1934, Oliver Jones is a jazz pianist whose career spans over 70 years and is known as a Canadian jazz prodigy. As a young boy, he was influenced by his family’s love of music and passed on his original dream of becoming an accountant. As a native of Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighborhood, Jones had direct access to multiple Canadian jazz pioneers, including Mme. Bonner of Union United Church, Canada’s oldest black congregation. He also studied under Daisy Sweeney, sister of jazz legend Oscar Peterson. As a child, he performed at various venues and clubs in the Montreal area, including a novelty act at Cafe St. Michel when he was only nine years old, and performed solo works at Rockhead’s Paradise. 

Jones committed to touring over the duration of his career, and from 1964 to 1980, he acted as the musical director for the calypso orchestra known as the Kenny Hamilton Show Band, after settling in Puerto Rico. 

In 1980, Jones returned to Montreal and began to perform in nightclubs with frequent bassist collaborator Charles Biddle. Not long after, Jones took up the title of the in-house pianist at Biddle’s club, Jazz and Rizz from 1981 to 1986, and would regularly perform at the Montreal International Jazz Festival between 1981 and 1999. 

During his 77 year career, Jones produced over 25 albums and has been recognized extensively for his work, receiving two Juno Awards, several Felix Awards, and both the Order of Canada and the Order of Quebec. Jones also performed within the classroom as an educator, having taught at both Laurentian University as well as McGill.