Hank Jones
Encyclopedia
Henry "Hank" Jones was an American
jazz
pianist
, bandleader
, arranger, and composer
. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts
honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters
Award. He was also honored in 2003 with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
(ASCAP) Jazz Living Legend Award. In 2008, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts
. On April 13, 2009, the University of Hartford
presented Jones with a Doctorate Degree for his musical accomplishments.
Jones recorded over sixty albums under his own name, and countless others as a sideman
.
, Henry "Hank" Jones moved to Pontiac, Michigan
, where his father, a Baptist deacon and lumber inspector, bought a three-story brick home. One of seven children, Jones was raised in a musical family. His mother sang; his two older sisters studied piano; and his two younger brothers—Thad
, a trumpeter, and Elvin
, a drummer—also became prominent jazz musicians. He studied piano at an early age and came under the influence of Earl Hines
, Fats Waller
, Teddy Wilson
, and Art Tatum
. By the age of 13 Jones was performing locally in Michigan
and Ohio
. While playing with territory bands in Grand Rapids
and Lansing
in 1944 he met Lucky Thompson
, who invited Jones to work in New York City at the Onyx Club
with Hot Lips Page.
In New York
, Jones regularly listened to leading bop
musicians, and was inspired to master the new style. While practicing and studying the music he worked with John Kirby
, Howard McGhee
, Coleman Hawkins
, Andy Kirk
, and Billy Eckstine
. In autumn 1947, he began touring in Norman Granz
's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, and from 1948 to 1953 he was accompanist for Ella Fitzgerald
, and accompanying her in England
in the Fall of 1948, developed a harmonic facility of extraordinary taste and sophistication. During this period he also made several historically important recordings with Charlie Parker
, which included "The Song Is You", from the Now's the Time album, recorded in December 1952, with Teddy Kotick
on bass and Max Roach
on drums.
Engagements with Artie Shaw
and Benny Goodman
followed, and recordings with artists such as Lester Young
, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery
, in addition to being for a time, 'house pianist' on the Savoy
label. From 1959 through 1975 Jones was staff pianist for CBS
studios. This included backing guests like Frank Sinatra
on The Ed Sullivan Show
. He played the piano accompaniment to Marilyn Monroe
as she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy
on May 19, 1962. By the late 1970s, his involvement as pianist and conductor with the Broadway
musical Ain't Misbehavin' (based on the music of Fats Waller
) had informed a wider audience of his unique qualities as a musician.
During the late 1970s and the 1980s, Jones continued to record prolifically, as an unaccompanied soloist, in duos with other pianists (including John Lewis
and Tommy Flanagan), and with various small ensembles, most notably the Great Jazz Trio. The group took this name in 1976, by which time Jones had already begun working at the Village Vanguard
with its original members, Ron Carter
and Tony Williams (it was Buster Williams
rather than Carter, however, who took part in the trio's first recording session in 1976); by 1980 Jones' sidemen were Eddie Gomez
and Al Foster
, and in 1982 Jimmy Cobb
replaced Foster. The trio also recorded with other all-star personnel, such as Art Farmer
, Benny Golson
, and Nancy Wilson
. In the early 1980s Jones held a residency as a solo pianist at the Cafe Ziegfeld and made a tour of Japan
, where he performed and recorded with George Duvivier
and Sonny Stitt
. Jones' versatility was more in evidence with the passage of time. He collaborated on recordings of Afro-pop with an ensemble from Mali
and on an album of spirituals, hymns and folksongs with Charlie Haden
called Steal Away (1995).
Some of his later recordings are For My Father (2005) with bassist George Mraz
and drummer Dennis Mackrel
, a solo piano recording issued in Japan under the title Round Midnight (2006), and as a side man on Joe Lovano
's Joyous Encounter (2005). Jones made his debut on Lineage Records, recording with Frank Wess
and with the guitarist Eddie Diehl, but also appeared on West of 5th (2006) with Jimmy Cobb
and Christian McBride
on Chesky Records
. He also accompanied Diana Krall
for "Dream a Little Dream of Me" on the album compilation, We all Love Ella (Verve 2007). He is one of the musicians who test and talk about the piano in the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037
, released in November 2007.
In early 2000, the Hank Jones Quartet accompanied jazz singer Salena Jones
at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho
, and in 2006 at the Monterey Jazz Festival
with both jazz singer Roberta Gambarini
and the Oscar Peterson
Trio.
Hank Jones lived in upstate New York and in Manhattan. He died at a hospice in Manhattan, New York, on May 16, 2010. He is survived by his wife Theodosia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, arranger, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters
NEA Jazz Masters
The National Endowment for the Arts , every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians...
Award. He was also honored in 2003 with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
(ASCAP) Jazz Living Legend Award. In 2008, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts
National Medal of Arts
The National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...
. On April 13, 2009, the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
presented Jones with a Doctorate Degree for his musical accomplishments.
Jones recorded over sixty albums under his own name, and countless others as a sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
.
Biography
Born in Vicksburg, MississippiVicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, Henry "Hank" Jones moved to Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, where his father, a Baptist deacon and lumber inspector, bought a three-story brick home. One of seven children, Jones was raised in a musical family. His mother sang; his two older sisters studied piano; and his two younger brothers—Thad
Thad Jones
Thaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen...
, a trumpeter, and Elvin
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
, a drummer—also became prominent jazz musicians. He studied piano at an early age and came under the influence of Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
, Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
, Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
, and Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
. By the age of 13 Jones was performing locally in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. While playing with territory bands in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
in 1944 he met Lucky Thompson
Lucky Thompson
Eli "Lucky" Thompson was a United States jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist...
, who invited Jones to work in New York City at the Onyx Club
Onyx Club (New York City)
The Onyx Club was a jazz club located on West 52d Street in New York City. Founded in 1928 by bootlegger Joe Helbock, the Onyx remained open through the 1940s and during its existence featured many of the jazz greats of the era, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan and Art...
with Hot Lips Page.
In New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Jones regularly listened to leading bop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
musicians, and was inspired to master the new style. While practicing and studying the music he worked with John Kirby
John Kirby (musician)
John Kirby , was a jazz double-bassist who also played trombone and tuba.-Background:Kirby may have been born in Winchester, Virginia, although other sources say he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, orphaned, and adopted. Kirby hit New York at 17, but after his trombone got stolen, he switched to...
, Howard McGhee
Howard McGhee
Howard McGhee was one of the very first bebop jazz trumpeters, together with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Idrees Sulieman. He was known for lightning-fast fingers and very high notes...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk
Andrew Dewey Kirk was a jazz saxophonist and tubist best known as a bandleader of the "Twelve Clouds of Joy," popular during the swing era....
, and Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
. In autumn 1947, he began touring in Norman Granz
Norman Granz
Norman Granz was an American jazz music impresario and producer.Granz was a fundamental figure in American jazz, especially from about 1947 to 1960...
's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, and from 1948 to 1953 he was accompanist for Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, and accompanying her in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the Fall of 1948, developed a harmonic facility of extraordinary taste and sophistication. During this period he also made several historically important recordings with Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, which included "The Song Is You", from the Now's the Time album, recorded in December 1952, with Teddy Kotick
Teddy Kotick
Teddy Kotick was a jazz bassist who appeared as a sideman with many of the leading figures of the 1940s and 1950s, including Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw, Horace Silver, Phil Woods and Bill Evans....
on bass and Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
on drums.
Engagements with Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
and Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
followed, and recordings with artists such as Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
, in addition to being for a time, 'house pianist' on the Savoy
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
label. From 1959 through 1975 Jones was staff pianist for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
studios. This included backing guests like Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. He played the piano accompaniment to Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
as she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on May 19, 1962. By the late 1970s, his involvement as pianist and conductor with the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Ain't Misbehavin' (based on the music of Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
) had informed a wider audience of his unique qualities as a musician.
During the late 1970s and the 1980s, Jones continued to record prolifically, as an unaccompanied soloist, in duos with other pianists (including John Lewis
John Lewis (pianist)
John Aaron Lewis was an American jazz pianist and composer best known as the musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet.- Early life:...
and Tommy Flanagan), and with various small ensembles, most notably the Great Jazz Trio. The group took this name in 1976, by which time Jones had already begun working at the Village Vanguard
Village Vanguard
The Village Vanguard is a jazz club located at in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club was opened on February 22, 1935, by Max Gordon. At first, it also featured other forms of music such as folk music and beat poetry, but it switched to an all-jazz format in 1957.-History:Over 100 jazz...
with its original members, Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
and Tony Williams (it was Buster Williams
Buster Williams
Charles Anthony Williams is an American jazz bassist.-Biography:Williams has gained prestige among jazz musicians as a solid supportive player. Since the early 1960s, he has made subtle swing, a precise rhythm and superb technique the landmark of his playing...
rather than Carter, however, who took part in the trio's first recording session in 1976); by 1980 Jones' sidemen were Eddie Gomez
Eddie Gomez
Edgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
and Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
, and in 1982 Jimmy Cobb
Jimmy Cobb
-External links:* - includes full discography* * * * * * *...
replaced Foster. The trio also recorded with other all-star personnel, such as Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
, and Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson (singer)
Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
. In the early 1980s Jones held a residency as a solo pianist at the Cafe Ziegfeld and made a tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where he performed and recorded with George Duvivier
George Duvivier
George Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab...
and Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
. Jones' versatility was more in evidence with the passage of time. He collaborated on recordings of Afro-pop with an ensemble from Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and on an album of spirituals, hymns and folksongs with Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
called Steal Away (1995).
Some of his later recordings are For My Father (2005) with bassist George Mraz
George Mraz
George Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians...
and drummer Dennis Mackrel
Dennis Mackrel
Dennis Mackrel is an American jazz drummer, composer, and arranger. He is also known for his work as a bandleader and music educator...
, a solo piano recording issued in Japan under the title Round Midnight (2006), and as a side man on Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
's Joyous Encounter (2005). Jones made his debut on Lineage Records, recording with Frank Wess
Frank Wess
Frank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
and with the guitarist Eddie Diehl, but also appeared on West of 5th (2006) with Jimmy Cobb
Jimmy Cobb
-External links:* - includes full discography* * * * * * *...
and Christian McBride
Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors...
on Chesky Records
Chesky Records
Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his...
. He also accompanied Diana Krall
Diana Krall
Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
for "Dream a Little Dream of Me" on the album compilation, We all Love Ella (Verve 2007). He is one of the musicians who test and talk about the piano in the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037
Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037
Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037 is an independent documentary film, that follows the construction of a Steinway concert grand piano over a year, from the search for wood in Alaska to a display at Manhattan's Steinway Hall. The documentary film received its U.S...
, released in November 2007.
In early 2000, the Hank Jones Quartet accompanied jazz singer Salena Jones
Salena Jones
Salena Jones is an American jazz and cabaret singer.-Biography:Born Joan Elizabeth Shaw in Newport News, Virginia, same home town as Ella Fitzgerald. "I loved Sarah Vaughan so much and adored Lena Horne's elegance, I put them together as ‘Salena.’ It looked good...
at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, and in 2006 at the Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
with both jazz singer Roberta Gambarini
Roberta Gambarini
Roberta Gambarini is an Italian jazz singer. She was born in Turin, Italy, and started taking clarinet lessons at age twelve. She made her singing debut at age seventeen in jazz clubs around Northern Italy, then moved to Milan, where she worked in radio and television and began recording under her...
and the Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
Trio.
Hank Jones lived in upstate New York and in Manhattan. He died at a hospice in Manhattan, New York, on May 16, 2010. He is survived by his wife Theodosia.
Awards and recognitions
Grammy history- Career Wins: 2009: Lifetime Achievement Grammy
- Career Nominations: 5
| Hank Jones Grammy Awards History | |||||
| Year | Category | Title | Genre | Label | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Soloist | "Bop Redux" | Jazz | Muse | Nominee |
| 1980 | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Soloist | "I Remember You" | Jazz | Black & Blue | Nominee |
| 1980 | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Group | "I Remember You" | Jazz | Black & Blue | Nominee |
| 1995 | Best Jazz Instrumental Solo | "Go Down Moses" | Jazz | Verve | Nominee |
| 1995 | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Individual or Group | "Steal Away" | Jazz | Verve | Nominee |
As leader
| Year | Title | Personnel | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Hank Jones Piano | Mercury | ||
| 1956 | Urbanity | Clef | ||
| 1958 | The Talented Touch | Capitol Records | ||
| 1966 | Happenings Happenings (Hank Jones & Oliver Nelson album) Happenings is an album by American jazz pianist Hank Jones and composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:... |
with Oliver Nelson Oliver Nelson Oliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer.-Early life and career:... and Orchestra |
Impulse Impulse! Records Impulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City... |
|
| 1975 | Hanky Panky | Trio with Ron Carter Ron Carter Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that... and Grady Tate Grady Tate Grady Tate, , is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer.He has played with Lional Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count... |
Inner City / East Wind | |
| 1976 | Hank (Hank Jones Solo Piano) | Jazz Alliance / All Art Jazz | Original LP : Satin Doll | |
| 1976 | Rockin' In Rhythm | Trio with Ray Brown Ray Brown (musician) Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one... and Jimmie Smith Jimmie Smith James Howard "Jimmie" Smith is an American jazz drummer.Smith studied at the Al Germansky School for Drummers in his home town of Newark, New Jersey from 1951–54, then attended the Juilliard School in 1959-60. He began his professional career in New York around this time... |
Concord | |
| 1976 | Arigato | With Ray Rivera, Jay Leonhart Jay Leonhart Jay Leonhart is a noted bassist and songwriter working in jazz and popular music. He has performed with diverse artists including Judy Garland, Carly Simon, Bucky Pizzarelli, Sting, and Frank Sinatra... or Richard Davis Richard Davis Richard Davis is an American jazz bassist who has been a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison since 1977. Originally from Chicago, he first became known in that city before establishing himself in New York City for twenty-three years. He teaches bass, jazz history, and... and Ronnie Bedford Ronnie Bedford Ronnie Bedford is an American jazz drummer and professor. Bedford is one of the founders of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival held annually in Cody, Wyoming, and was the recipient of the 1993 Wyoming Governor's Award for the Arts. In 1993 he released a self-published CD, Tour de West. He later... |
Progressive | Reissued on CD with bonus tracks. |
| 1977 | Bop Redux | Trio with George Duvivier George Duvivier George Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab... and Ben Riley Ben Riley Ben Riley is an American hard bop drummer known for his work with Thelonious Monk, as well as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, and as member of the group Sphere... |
Muse | |
| 1977 | I Remember You | Trio with George Duvivier George Duvivier George Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab... and Oliver Jackson Oliver Jackson Oliver Jackson , aka Bops Junior, was an American jazz drummer.Jackson played in Detroit in the 1940s with Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Wardell Gray, and had a variety show with Eddie Locke called Bop & Locke... |
Black & Blue | |
| 1977 | Just for Fun | With Ray Brown Ray Brown (musician) Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one... , Shelly Manne Shelly Manne Shelly Manne , born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing... and Howard Roberts Howard Roberts Howard Roberts was an American jazz guitarist, educator and session musician.-Biography:Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and began playing guitar at age 8. By the time he was 15 he was playing professionally locally.... |
Galaxy | |
| 1978 | Our Delights | Piano duo with Tommy Flanagan Tommy Flanagan Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald... |
Galaxy | |
| 1978 | Ain't Misbehavin | Richard Davis, Roy Haynes Roy Haynes Roy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz... , Bob Ojeda Bob Ojeda Robert Michael Ojeda is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. Ojeda is best remembered as an anchor in the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets starting rotation , and for being the lone survivor of a March 22, boating accident that killed fellow Cleveland Indians pitchers... , Teddy Edwards Teddy Edwards Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards was an American jazz tenor saxophonist based on the West Coast of the US. Some consider him to be one of the most influential jazz saxophonists.-Biography:... , and Kenny Burrell Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:... |
Galaxy | |
| 1978 | Groovin' High | Quintet with Sam Jones Sam Jones -Music & Entertainment:* Samuel Jones , U.S. bassist, cellist, and composer* Samuel Jones , U.S. composer, conductor* Sam Jones , character in Doctor Who spin-off novels* Sam J... , Mickey Roker Mickey Roker Granville "Mickey" Roker is an American jazz drummer. Roker was born into extreme poverty in Miami to Granville and Willie Mae Roker... , Thad Jones Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen... , and Charlie Rouse Charlie Rouse Charlie Rouse was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist and flautist. His career is marked by the collaboration for more than ten years with Thelonious Monk.- Biography :... |
Muse | |
| 1995 | Steal Away | Verve | ||
| 2003 | Porgy & Bess | Toshiba EMI | ||
| 2004 | Satin Doll | Absord Japan | ||
| 2005 | My Funny Valentine | Sony/CBS | ||
| 2006 | Round Midnight | Sony | ||
| 2006 | West of 5th | With Jimmy Cobb Jimmy Cobb -External links:* - includes full discography* * * * * * *... and Christian McBride Christian McBride Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors... |
Chesky | |
| 2006 | Hank and Frank | Lineage | ||
| 2009 | Hank and Frank II | Frank Wess Frank Wess Frank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:... , Ilya Lushtak, Marion Cowings, John Webber John Webber John Webber was an English artist best known for his images of early Alaska and Hawaii.Webber was born on 6 October 1751 in London, educated in Switzerland and studied painting at Paris.... , and Mickey Roker Mickey Roker Granville "Mickey" Roker is an American jazz drummer. Roker was born into extreme poverty in Miami to Granville and Willie Mae Roker... . |
Lineage | |
| 2009 | Pleased to Meet You | Oliver Jones Oliver Jones Oliver Theophilus Jones is a Canadian jazz pianist, organist, composer and arranger.... , Brandi Disterheft and Jim Doxas |
Justin Time Records | |
| 2009 | Trio Hank Jones | George Mraz George Mraz George Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians... , Willie Jones |
Multisonic | Live |
| 2011 | Trio Hank Jones | George Mraz George Mraz George Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians... , Willie Jones |
Marecam | DVD from concert published on CD in 2009 by Multisonic |
With Great Jazz Trio
| Year | Title | Personnel | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Love for Sale | with Buster Williams Buster Williams Charles Anthony Williams is an American jazz bassist.-Biography:Williams has gained prestige among jazz musicians as a solid supportive player. Since the early 1960s, he has made subtle swing, a precise rhythm and superb technique the landmark of his playing... and Tony Williams |
East Wind Records East Wind Records East Wind was a Japanese jazz record label.Among their most prominent artists were "The Great Jazz Trio", a group that has included Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Richard Davis, Ron Carter.-Discography:-External links:**... |
|
| 1977 | Direct From L.A. | East Wind | ||
| 1977 | Kindness, Joy, Love & Happiness | East Wind | ||
| 1977 | At the Village Vanguard Vols. 1 & 2 | with Ron Carter Ron Carter Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that... and Tony Williams |
East Wind | Live |
| 1978 | New Wine in Old Bottles | with Jackie Mclean Jackie McLean John Lenwood McLean was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in New York City.-Biography:McLean's father, John Sr., played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra... , Ron Carter Ron Carter Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that... and Tony Williams |
East Wind | |
| 1978 | Milestones | with Jackie Mclean Jackie McLean John Lenwood McLean was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in New York City.-Biography:McLean's father, John Sr., played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra... , Ron Carter Ron Carter Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that... and Tony Williams |
East Wind | |
As sideman
- 1956: Milt JacksonMilt JacksonMilton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
- The Jazz Skyline - 1957: Curtis FullerCurtis FullerCurtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
- New Trombone - 1957: Paul ChambersPaul ChambersPaul Laurence Dunbar Chambers, Jr. was a jazz bassist. A fixture of rhythm sections during the 1950s and 1960s, his importance in the development of jazz bass can be measured not only by the length and breadth of his work in this short period but also his impeccable time, intonation, and virtuosic...
- Bass on TopBass on TopBass on Top is an album by American jazz bassist Paul Chambers recorded in 1957 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4½ stars stating "The result is a warm, entertaining collection of mainstream jazz that nevertheless... - 1958: Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else
- 1960: John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
- Bags & TraneBags & TraneBags & Trane is an album credited to jazz musicians Milt Jackson and John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1368. Taking its title from Jackson and Coltrane's nicknames, it is the only collaborative record by the pair, atlhough only Jackson contributed original compositions... - 1961: Wes MontgomeryWes MontgomeryJohn Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
- So Much GuitarSo Much GuitarSo Much Guitar is an album by American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, released in 1961. It has been reissued by Original Jazz Classics.All the tracks are available on the Wes Montgomery compilation CD The Complete Riverside Recordings.- Reception :... - 1962: Shelly ManneShelly ManneShelly Manne , born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing...
- 2-3-42-3-42-3-4 is an album by American jazz drummer Shelly Manne featuring performances recorded in 1962 for the Impulse! label.-Background:2-3-4 was not a typical album for Manne... - 1962: Milt JacksonMilt JacksonMilton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
- StatementsStatements (album)Statements is an album by jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson, released in 1962 on Impulse! Records.The CD reissue features a composition originally on an Impulse sampler as well as quintet recordings from 1964.-Track listing:... - 1962: Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
- Rhythm Is My BusinessRhythm Is My BusinessRhythm Is My Business is a 1962 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. The album was recorded with a 'Big Band' and arranged and conducted by the American R&B organist Bill Doggett.... - 1962: Curtis FullerCurtis FullerCurtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
: Cabin in the SkyCabin in the Sky (album)Cabin in the Sky is a 1962 album by jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller, on which he plays song from the musical Cabin in the Sky.Manny Albam arranged and conducted the accompanying orchestra.-Tracklisting:#"The Prayer" #"Taking a Chance on Love"... - 1963: Johnny HartmanJohnny HartmanJohn Maurice Hartman was an American bass jazz singer who specialized in ballads and earned critical acclaim, though he was never widely known. He recorded a well-known collaboration with the saxophonist John Coltrane in 1963 called John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, and was briefly a member of...
- I Just Dropped By to Say HelloI Just Dropped By to Say HelloI Just Dropped By to Say Hello is a 1963 studio album by jazz singer Johnny Hartman. It was Hartman's second and next-to-last album on Impulse!, after his highly successful collaboration with John Coltrane which produced John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, recorded a few months earlier.-Track...
(impulse!) - 1964: Ben WebsterBen WebsterBenjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
- See You at the FairSee You at the FairSee You at the Fair is an album by jazz saxophonist Ben Webster, released on Impulse! Records.-Track listing:#"Someone to Watch over Me" 4:30#"In a Mellow Tone" 4:26#"Over the Rainbow" 4:42... - 1964: Johnny Hartman - The Voice That Is!The Voice That Is!The Voice That Is! is an album by American jazz vocalist Johnny Hartman featuring performances recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1965: Lionel HamptonLionel HamptonLionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
: You Better Know It!!!You Better Know It!!!You Better Know It!!! is an album by American jazz vibraponist Lionel Hampton featuring performances recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1965: Elvin JonesElvin JonesElvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
- Dear John C.Dear John C.Dear John C. is an album by American jazz drummer Elvin Jones featuring performances recorded in 1965 for the Impulse! label. The "John C." mentioned in the title is John Coltrane. The album was also released on SACD.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1966: Oliver NelsonOliver NelsonOliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer.-Early life and career:...
- Oliver Nelson Plays MichelleOliver Nelson Plays MichelleOliver Nelson Plays Michelle is an album by American jazz composer, arranger and saxophonist Oliver Nelson, featuring solos by Nelson and Phil Woods, recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1967: Oliver Nelson - The Spirit of '67 with Pee Wee RussellPee Wee RussellCharles Ellsworth Russell, much better known by his nickname Pee Wee Russell, was a jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but eventually focused solely on clarinet....
(Impulse!) - 1967: Oliver Nelson - The Kennedy DreamThe Kennedy DreamThe Kennedy Dream is an album by American composer/arranger Oliver Nelson recorded in 1967 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 3½ stars stating "In February of 1967, Oliver Nelson recognized Kennedy's contributions and assembled a big band to...
(Impulse!) - 1969: Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (singer)Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
- But Beautiful - 1971: Bobbi HumphreyBobbi HumphreyBarbara Ann Humphrey is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays fusion, jazz-funk and soul-jazz styles. Bobbi Humphrey has performed for audiences around the world....
- Flute InFlute InFlute In is the debut album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded in 1971 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Andrew Hamilton awarded the album 4 stars stating "Bobbi displays dexterity and power throughout her coming out, mainstream LP".-Track...
(Blue Note) - 1972: Dexter GordonDexter GordonDexter Gordon was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and an Academy Award-nominated actor . He is regarded as one of the first and most important musicians to adapt the bebop musical language of people like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell to the tenor saxophone...
- Ca' Purange - 1978: Ron CarterRon CarterRon Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
- Carnaval - 1986: Bob Stewart - Welcome to the Club
- 2004: Bob Stewart -Talk of The Town
- 2004: Joe LovanoJoe LovanoJoseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
- I'm All For You - 2005: Joe Lovano - Joyous Encounter