Darryl Jones: Untold Stories of Miles Davis, Sting & 30 Years With The Rolling Stones

Episode 119: Darryl Jones is the bassist legends call. Miles Davis hired him at 21. Then came Sting, Herbie Hancock, Madonna, Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton, and more than 30 years holding down the low end for The Rolling Stones.

In this full interview, Darryl tells Elmo how he won over Miles Davis, introduced Sting to Miles, landed the Rolling Stones bass player gig, and built an extraordinary musical relationship with Charlie Watts. He also shares stories about Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Herbie Hancock, Omar Hakim, Steve Jordan, and the night Charlie and Keith finally decided to tell him he had the job.

Darryl even picks up his bass to demonstrate the difference between playing with Miles Davis and The Rolling Stones, explains the hidden reggae roots of “Start Me Up,” and reveals what makes Keith Richards’ rhythm feel unlike anyone else.

From Miles to Sting to Mick, this is a funny, intimate, and deeply musical conversation with one of the greatest bass players alive. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the legend, Darryl Jones!

Filmed live in front of a studio audience at The Recording Club in Santa Monica

Go With Elmo Lovano is the #1 music professional podcast, featuring deep, honest conversations with the legends, artists, musicians, producers, songwriters, and industry leaders shaping music today about how they got where they are and how they keep pushing forward.

00:00 – TRAILER
01:21 – INTRODUCTION
02:21 – INTERVIEW STARTS
04:51 – EARLY YEARS, MEETING MILES DAVIS
07:48 – MILES DAVIS AUDITION AT 21 YEARS OLD
11:46 – STING AUDITION
13:42 – WHAT MILES HEARD THAT OTHER MUSICIANS DIDN’T
18:06 – STING
21:03 – OMAR HAKIM, STING’S BAND
22:56 – INTRODUCING STING TO MILES DAVIS
24:04 – PLAYING WITH HERBIE HANCOCK AND THE HEADHUNTERS
25:37 – IMPROVISATION STYLE OF HERBIE
28:01 – THE ROLLING STONES
30:33 – THE ROLLING STONES AUDITION
33:48 – CHARLIE WATTS
37:26 – 30+ YEARS OF PLAYING WITH THE ROLLING STONES
37:46 – THE SECRET OF PLAYING WITH KEITH RICHARDS
39:24 – WRITING WITH THE ROLLING STONES
41:01 – A RECORDING SESSION WITH THE ROLLING STONES
41:43 – LOSING CHARLIE WATTS
42:27 – HANGING WITH THE STONES
43:52 – ROLLING STONES RHYTHM SECTION, STEVE JORDAN
46:28 – DARRYL PLAYS BASS, MILES VS STONES STYLES
49:14 – JONES MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, MAKING BASSES
52:37 – CHICAGO
53:45 – HOW DARRYL STAYS INSPIRED

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