His most notable work was with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet in the 1970s, but he has also worked with many other notable jazz musicians, including Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, and Herbie Hancock.
In addition to his work as a sideman, Poole has also released several solo albums, including "The Essence of John Poole" (1977), "Sweet Lucy" (1978), and "Blue Planet Man" (1980).
Poole is also a composer and arranger, and he has written music for film and television. He has also taught jazz and latin percussion at the University of Southern California and the California Institute of the Arts.
Poole was awarded the Jazz Journalists Association's "Drummer of the Year" award in 2004 and 2005, and he is also a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).