Polo Jones is the bassist for Italian superstar Zucchero, and has worked with Carlos Santana, Ray Charles, Sting, Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker and
Polo Jones started playing bass guitar at the age of 10. His first band experience was with his parents, Paul Sr. (who blows a mean saxophone) and Inez, a legendary pianist and singer in her own right. At age 14, Polo was asked to go on tour with blues legend John Lee Hooker. His love for music drove him to expand his abilities to include rock, funk and jazz as well as blues.
A versatile and talented musician by the early 70s, Polo was working with Larry Graham, Hot Chocolate, Walter Hawkins and Sly Stone. After touring through the 70s and early 80s, Polo pursued a short solo career. In 1985 he received a call from producer Corrado Rustici (Zucchero, Andrea Bocelli) to join a fusion pop band called Holiday of Hands. Shortly thereafter, Polo began recording albums in Europe.
His long-time position as bass player and musical director for Italian superstar Zucchero has included eight multi-platinum recordings, many tours around the world, and performances with Eric Clapton, Solomon Burke, Cheb Mami, David Sancious, Brian May, Luciano Pavarotti, Delores O’Riordian and many others.
Polo’s bass style is both solid and expressive, which has made him an asset to many rhythm sections. He also plays bass synthesizer, guitar, drums and keyboards. But Polo is not just a world class entertainer—he has produced a wide range of innovative projects, from language tapes to movie soundtracks (including “Wrong Turn” in 2005), in all styles from rock n’ roll to country. Constantly updating and improving his playing, producing, arranging and songwriting skills, Polo has kept himself entrenched in the music industry whenever he’s not recording or touring.
Polo’s long list of artist affiliations includes: Carlos Santana, Ray Charles, Sting, Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Doobie Brothers, Narada Walden, Peter Vettese, Michael Shrieve, Neil Schon, Clarence Clemmons, Nils Lofgren, Randy Crawford, Duran Duran, Jermaine Jackson, Pia Zadora, Levon Helm, Adrian Legg, Bill Withers, David Sancious, Greg Phillinganes, Randy Jackson, David Garibaldi, Tower of Power horns, Michael Kaman and Chuck Rainey.
Selected Album Credits: Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard soundtrack), Paul Young, Pavarotti and Friends, John Lee Hooker, Nils Lofgren, Uykkepo, Clifford Coulter w/Bill Withers, Batman Returns (trailers), Gato Pancieri, Loredana Berte, Enzo Avitabile, Biagio Antonacci, Gianluigi DeFranco, Sista Monica, Toste, Dave Ristrim, Maletesta w/ Steve Smith and Corrado Rustici and many more.
Memorable venues and performances include: Carnegie Hall, Woodstock 94, MTV, Taratata Paris, Europe’s Most Wanted, Mas Pop, Unplugged, World Music Awards, Montreux Jazz festival, House of Blues, War Child w/ Pavarotti, Saturday Night Live, Pat Sajak Show, Arsenio Hall Show, and From the Kremlin.
Polo says: “My hands are the conduit from my soul, my instrument is the tool that I use, and my amp is the conduit to the world! With Markbass I know the world hears my soul.”
