Old skool jazz musicians, outside of Louis Armstrong, didn’t smile much. Miles Davis and John Coltrane looked like they were going to kill someone right after the show, for instance, or maybe halfway through it.

Jazz musicians wanted to be taken seriously.  They dressed like businessmen, and meant business, generally. Even the showoff fellows like Buddy Rich seemed manic, not happy. Jo Jones was different. He was serene and smiling, and looked like he was having way more fun than the rest of the band and the audience combined. His sunny demeanor was more than a pose. He sounded just like his glowing, mischievous smile. He’s the only one of two drummers I can stand a solo from.  Joe Morello and Jo Jones. Making the world safe for drum solos, one lounge at a time.