STILL RUNNING IN HIGH GEAR BOOKER T. JONES' WORK DIDN'T STOP WITH THE MGS.

Byline: Chris J. Walker Correspondent

No matter what keyboardist and producer Booker T. Jones does, he'll always be associated with the legendary Stax Records' r&b sound.

``Absolutely,'' says Jones by telephone from his Marin County home. ``That's what defined Booker T. and music, was Stax. It's restrictive in some ways, because I've liked many other genres, such as rock, and I've done writing and composing for country. So I've been pigeonholed some, but I broke out of it in the '70s when I produced Willie Nelson.''

Jones engineered three of Nelson's recordings including ``Stardust'' and helmed other performers' rock, jazz, blues and r&b records.

``I just love music in general and always have had the attitude of building on (the Stax Records association), rather than moving away from it,'' he says.

Based in Memphis (1959-75), Stax churned out gritty Southern-style r&b that differed greatly from northern competitor Motown Records' distinctly wholesome sound. Jones was only 16 when he and a group of session musicians - guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Lewis Steinberg, and drummer Al Jackson Jr. - recorded their biggest hit, ``Green Onions.''

The keyboardist, who shares billing with bluesmen Robert Cray and Charlie Musselwhite at UCLA's Royce Hall Thursday, was a session player, producer, and leader of the label's house band, Booker T. & the MGs.

Surprisingly, that early success didn't overwhelm Jones. He stayed in school, continuing with music studies at Indiana University. All the while, he and the MGs laid down vibrant, soulful backdrops for Stax's legendary roster, which included Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Carla Thomas, Albert King, and Sam & Dave.

``The studying really helped because I was doing a lot of arrangements with the productions,'' Jones says. During that golden era, he often had a cousin hanging around and sopping up his expertise.

``I was a piano player and Isaac (Hayes) looked over my shoulder and pretty much learned how to play piano there,'' he recalls. ``We often composed next door to each other; we were label-mates and session-mates for many years.''

As a result of Stax Records' legacy, Booker T. & the MGs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Jones was amazed by the recognition, especially as it came so early after the honor was established in 1986. Additionally, the group, which reunited 10 years ago after disbanding in 1971, won several Grammys in the late '60s.

Although Jones is more focused on his solo career, the band periodically performs these days. For the UCLA show, however, he'll work with Ndugu Chandler (drums), Bobby Watson (bass) and Randy Quan (guitar).

Comparing his new group to the MGs, Jones says, ``It's quite a bit more Memphis blues oriented and I do a lot of my favorite Stax songs, which includes me singing. That's something I didn't do with the MGs.''

In contrast, Cray and Musselwhite have been singing since they began their careers. Musselwhite, who performs with guitarist Kirk Fletcher, is known for remarkable harmonica playing and passionate singing. His version of Duke Pearson's instrumental ``Cristo Redemptor'' is considered a blues classic.

``As years have gone by and I've become more established,'' the recently Grammy-nominated musician says, ``I could take chances and try other things with the blues.'' Some of his adventures have been recordings with Cuban guitarist Eliades Ochoa, Tom Waits and, most recently, the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Nonetheless, his blues background and experience is solid with stints alongside icons Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker. As a teenager in Memphis, he even met Elvis Presley several times and went to a few of his parties. ``I wish I had brought a camera, a tape recorder, and took notes,'' Musselwhite says. ``I didn't know I was preparing myself for a career. I just was having a good time and loved the music.''

Cray incorporates elements of pop, gospel and r&b, which has enabled him to appeal to audiences outside of blues. The guitarist and singer has impressively garnered three Grammys, and his album ``Strong Persuader'' went double platinum in 1986.

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND, BOOKER T. JONES and CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE

Where: UCLA's Royce Hall.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets: $20, $35 and $45 ($15 for UCLA students with valid ID). Call [phone] or go to www.performingarts.ucla.edu.

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Booker T. Jones