David Jones was raised in Edmonton,
Alberta and received his early musical
training as one of the original members
of The Cosmopolitan Music Society. After
performing with the National Youth
Orchestra in 1967, David joined the
Canadian Forces. He performed with the
Air Command Band in Winnipeg, Manitoba
and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian
Light Infantry (PPCLI) Band in Calgary,
Alberta as lead trumpet and soloist from
1967 to 1980. From 1980 to 1983 his
military educational upgrading included
commissioning from Warrant Officer to
Lieutenant, graduating from Canadian
Forces Staff School and serving as
Associate Director of Music of the Air
Command Band in Winnipeg. He was
appointed the Commanding Officer and
Director of Music of the Air Command
Band from 1983 to 1986, and during 1987
was an Assistant Staff Officer in the
Directorate of Ceremonial of National
Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was appointed the Director of Music
of the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in
Ottawa from 1987 to 1990 and assumed
command of the PPCLI Band in Calgary
from 1990 to 1994. During his tenure as
Commanding Officer and Director of Music
of the PPCLI Band, Captain Jones
initiated, organized and coordinated the
production of the compact disc
“Celebration”, which is heralded by
military and civilian organizations as
world class and the finest in Canadian
Forces history. Tommy Banks and Harry
Pinchin served as producers in this
recording.
When the PPCLI Band
was disbanded in 1994, Captain Jones
chose to retire from the Canadian Forces
and continue his career as a musician,
bandleader, adjudicator and clinician in
the Calgary area. Throughout his career
he has performed with the Symphony
Orchestras of Winnipeg, Victoria and
Calgary, and played in big bands for Bob
Hope, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Paul
Anka, B.J. Thomas, Gladys Knight and the
Pips, Tommy Banks, Ron Paley and Diana
Krall. He has conducted concert bands
that featured Moe Koffman, Tracy Dahl
and Mary Lou Fallis. His jazz band,
“Prime Time Big Band”, formed in 1994,
has featured Alastair Kay and Guido
Basso of the Boss Brass, Hugh Fraser,
Mike Tomaro, P.J. Perry, Bobby Shew,
Phil Woods, George Robert, Bob Mintzer,
Phil Nimmons, Ian McDougall, Peter
Appleyard, Paul Wertico, Mike Herriott,
Andrea Tofanelli, Adam Rapa, Ingrid
Jensen, Chris Jaudes, Walter White, Sean
Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Allan Vizzutti
and Doc Severinsen.
Dave Jones,
although retired from the Canadian
Military, is presently serving as a
reserve band consultant to the Commander
of 41 Canadian Brigade Group. He was the
Director of “The Band of Outriders of
the Calgary Stampede” from 1994 to 2002
and the Director of The Calgary Stetson
Show Band from 2000 to 2003. Currently,
he is the Director of The University of
Calgary “Big Band” and one of Canada’s
top big bands “Prime Time Big Band”.
Prime Time Big Band is pleased to
announce the release of their debut CD
“for our Friends”, a collection of Big
Band Jazz from the 50’s to the present
day and available through
www.primetimebigband.com. The big band
is performing in their 6th season at The
Ironwood Stage and Grill in Calgary,
Alberta.
Prime Time Big Band ~
The Band
