A fine hard bop soloist, Jimmy Owens has never achieved much fame. He started on trumpet when he was ten and later on studied trumpet with Donald Byrd. Owens has played as a sideman with many major players, including Lionel Hampton (1963-1964), Hank Crawford (1964-1965), Charles Mingus, Herbie Mann, Duke Ellington, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie reunion band (1968). He played on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album in 1973, worked extensively in Europe, was one of the founders of the Collective Black Artists, was closely involved with the Jazzmobile in New York and served on several arts commissions. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide