Jones featured in eighth Stars for Saskatchewan concert on Monday

Juno Award winning pianist Oliver Jones will bring his talents to the Sky Centre stage on Monday for the eighth performance of the Swift Current Allied Arts Council's 2008 - 2009 Stars for Saskatchewan series.

Jones' career intertwines with the proud history of jazz in his native Montreal, the thriving city that in its heyday also produced Oscar Peterson, Jones' lifelong friend and continuing inspiration.

Jones grew up blocks from the legendary Peterson, and as a youngster he would sit on the Peterson porch, listening to the older boy practice. Oscar's sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, became his first piano teacher, with lessons continuing for the next 12 years. These lessons solidified young Jones' skills, which were already considerable; Oliver was performing publicly at age five, and by the time he had his first nightclub appearance, he was nine.

Jones has enjoyed a rich and varied six-decade musical career. From his teens to his early twenties, Jones could play anything from swing to rock-n-roll; in those days playing jazz was not considered a viable career. This diverse training proved invaluable when, in 1964, the opportunity to become musical director and pianist for Jamaican singer Kenny Hamilton presented itself. Jones continued with the Hamilton band for the next 16 years.

In 1980, Jones returned to Montreal, determined to pursue jazz professionally. He started working regularly in Montreal downtown jazz clubs. Three years later, after a fortuitous meeting with Justin Time Records founder Jim West, Jones' dream came true. Justin Time Records' very first recording would be Jones with bassist Charlie Biddles, called Live At Biddles.

Jones' numerous recordings throughout the years have demonstrated Oliver's unmistakable finesse: lightning-fast technique, solid articulation, powerful lyricism and rollicking rhythms and earned him many accolades including a Juno Award.

In 1994 Jones was awarded the Order of Canada, for outstanding achievement in the arts, and in 2005 he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement.

Advance tickets for Monday's 8 p.m. concert can be purchased at the Pharmasave Ticket Centre. For tickets or more information, call 773-1338 or 1-877-211-2787.