Biography

With “Scratch,” Cali Jones’ bold new interpretation of a Crusaders classic, and a developing relationship with Woodward Avenue Records, the multi-talented saxophonist is entering an exciting new chapter as a contemporary jazz artist determined to make the music as much fun to experience as it is to play. Blending the sophisticated, late-night atmosphere of the Quiet Storm era with the soulful energy of funk, R&B and contemporary jazz, Jones is shaping an identity built on originality, emotional connection and the sheer exhilaration of a great live performance.

 “Cali Jones has the silky smoothness of Boney James, with the edge and power of Richard Elliot!” says Grammy-winning producer and guitarist Paul Brown, who produced “Scratch” and Jones’ previous single, “Midnight Strut,” and has become an important mentor and creative partner. Yet Jones never set out to sound like either artist. His warm, full-bodied tone and ability to move between restraint and power emerged naturally as he searched for a sound that felt authentically his own. “I was trying to be myself,” he explains. “I just fell into that category by not trying to emulate someone in an exact way.”

 That philosophy is central to the Cali Jones identity. Previously recording and performing under his birth name, Matt Willard, Jones began working with Brown after a difficult period that ultimately changed his perspective on music and his career. Years of playing had led to TMJ and related jaw problems, forcing him to step away from the saxophone for about a year. As difficult as the hiatus was, the time away gave him an opportunity to reconsider the artist he wanted to become. When he returned, he was determined to stop forcing a career and instead make music he genuinely enjoyed, work with people he respected and allow his identity to develop organically.

 The name Cali Jones emerged just as naturally. During a recording session, Brown jokingly called him “Cali,” and Jones immediately liked the sound. The new persona gave him the freedom to pursue the sophisticated, seductive late-night aesthetic he had long envisioned while incorporating the funk, soul, R&B and high-energy elements that come naturally to him.

 Jones’ first major collaboration with Brown grew from that renewed perspective. Brown’s relaxed, humble approach appealed to Jones both musically and personally, while their work together allowed him to develop a more confident approach to his playing. Their partnership produced “Midnight Strut,” followed by “Scratch,” which brings Jones together with an extraordinary ensemble including Brown on guitar, Freddie Washington on bass, Mike White on drums, Gregg Karukas on keys, Shane Theriot on guitar and Lenny Castro on percussion. The Crusaders composition had long been on Woodward Avenue label head Mark Nordman’s musical bucket list, and Jones says the session became as much about camaraderie as musicianship. Everyone arrived with the same goal: make great music, have fun and create something memorable.

 Jones’ creative instincts were shaped early in Southeast Virginia, where he discovered music in sixth grade. He initially began on trombone before gravitating toward the saxophone, which quickly felt natural. Raised in the Hampton Roads area, Jones credits his parents and the rigorous music programs at York High School with helping him develop his musicality, while the school’s longtime band director, Richard Pervis, became one of his most important influences.

 After graduating, Jones returned to York High School to work with the marching band as an assistant director, a role he has maintained for more than a decade. Pervis became more than a teacher; Jones describes him as a parental figure whose guidance helped shape both his musicianship and his desire to encourage younger players. Today, Jones continues that tradition as a marching instructor, working with woodwind and brass musicians and showing students that a career in music can take many forms, from performing and producing to songwriting, session work and touring.

 Along the way, Jones has drawn inspiration from artists including Michael Brecker, Boney James, Brian Culbertson and Dave Koz. He is particularly fascinated by what happens around the lead instrument—the rhythm section, arrangements, production and energy that turn individual musicians into a complete experience. That perspective has helped him develop not simply as a saxophonist but as a dynamic performer creating a full-throttle musical presentation.

 After releasing his debut album, Soul Assassin, in 2022, Jones’ single “Electric Shock” reached the Top Five on the Groove Jazz/Radiowave chart and earned early SiriusXM Watercolors airplay. His return with “Midnight Strut,” followed by “Scratch” and the Woodward Avenue partnership, finds him embracing the freedom to let his sound and career develop without forcing either into a predetermined mold. “I don’t have any other goals but trying to make good music and having fun doing it,” Jones says. “My most proud moments come when I’m doing what I love. That is the biggest takeaway—making the choice to pursue music and not backing down when the road gets difficult.”