Eugenie Jones sings at the Jazz Station in Eugene
- Eugenie Jones voice
- Peter Adams piano
- Jonathan Green upright bass
- Ron Steen drums
Eugenie Jones is an award-winning American Jazz singer/songwriter, producer, and legacy activist. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Jones grew up with four sisters and three brothers. Her father, Eugene, was the choir director at the family's church, and her mother, Tommie Lee, was the choir's lead soprano. Jones grew up listening to her mother's voice, perpetually singing around the house and at local community events. However, in these early years, Jones possessed no latent desire to follow in her mother's footsteps. She grew up, earned her MBA, and eventually made her home in Seattle, entering the business world as a nonprofit marketing communications expert working in housing for the homeless advocacy. Her singing career began late in life after the death of her mother in 2008. "Beyond my grief, I felt a void that I later recognized as missing the sound of my mother singing. Seeking solace and a positive way forward, I wondered if I could carry on that part of her." That speculation led Jones to the Seattle jazz scene and ultimately to pursue something she had never imagined – a career in music. On her independent label, Open Mic Records, Jones has successfully produced three award-winning recording projects comprised primarily of her original material. She has recorded more than 30 original songs and is characterized as a “cleverly gifted lyricist.” Her projects have resulted in her winning the Pacific NW Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year and Recording of the Year Golden Ear awards. Recorded in each region of the United States with 32 world-class musicians, her 2022 release Players climbed to #7 on Jazz Week's Top 50 weekly charts. It also ranked #30 on Jazz Week's Top 100 Albums list of the year. 2022 also saw Jones praised by notable jazz legends and favorably reviewed in every major jazz publication, including DownBeat, JazzTimes, JazzIz, and many others. Jones is additionally an active community volunteer engaged in preserving an almost lost legacy of legendary African American music in Seattle. She produces live music events that include education and outreach to communities and schools while also employing a diverse and inclusive array of local music artists. These events doubly benefit the community by raising funds for nonprofit community service organizations such as the Rotary Boys & Girls Club, the Central Area Senior Center, and the food banks of Northwest Harvest. Jones is also an Advisor Council Member with Seattle’s KNKX radio and serves on the board of the nonprofit music outreach organization - Music Discovery Center. "This is an extraordinary singer, songwriter, and a source of a light we are fortunate to experience," states NEA Jazz Master Reggie Workman.
