Jone, Koko (born "Kevin")

Koko Jones (formerly known as Kevin Jones) is an accomplished and versatile percussionist, drummer, and bandleader whose career spans decades and crosses many musical styles. Raised in Englewood, New Jersey, she was steeped early in a rich cultural environment—learning classical percussion (timpani, xylophone, etc.), Latin rhythms, and jazz techniques from mentors like Babatunde Lea and Karl Potter. Her playing is noted for its rhythmic depth and sensitivity: whether leading her band through jazz‐Latin hybrids with her group Tenth World or working in R&B, world music, or pop settings, she blends technical proficienct with emotional expression.

Jones has also navigated significant personal transition and adversity—transitioning gender identity, grappling with transphobia and sexism in the industry, and rebuilding her career under her authentic self. Through it all she's maintained her artistry and expanded her influence, not just as a performer but as an educator and mentor.