Hank Jones, RIP

May 18, 2010 11:27 AM

Renowned pianist Hank Jones, whose sixty year career in jazz saw him perform with scores of legendary musicians, has passed away at the age of 91, and was practicing up to the very end.

Jones grew up in Michigan in a musical family (his brothers Thad and Elvin became famous jazz musicians in their own right), and upon moving to New York City (around 1944) began a sixty year career in which he worked with some of the most famous jazz musicians of all time, including: Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sonny Stitt, Billy Eckstine, Coleman Hawkins, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Lucky Thompson, Milt Jackson, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane, etc.

Hank Jones: Willow Weep For Me

Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich - Ad Lib

Hank Jones on Bebop

posted by HP LaserJet P10006 (15 comments total)

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posted by ardgedee at 11:35 AM on May 18, 2010

What a great musical family he, Elvin, and Thad were. He was there when all the greats were at their greatest. Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Benny Goodman, Cannonball Adderley, Artie Shaw, etc. Wow.


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posted by HumanComplex at 11:39 AM on May 18, 2010

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posted by motty at 11:44 AM on May 18, 2010

I can't believe that I listened to Elvin and Hank Jones for thirty-five years without knowing they were brothers! I love those two: their musicianship and ability to adjust their styles when playing with a huge variety of people...Elvin Jones died six years ago, on May 18.
posted by kozad at 11:45 AM on May 18, 2010

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posted by dbiedny at 12:08 PM on May 18, 2010

Not his most artistic, but arguably his most known: he accompanied Marilyn Monroe on Happy Birthday Mr. President.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:09 PM on May 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

A great pianist from a great family, and a gentleman to boot. I thought of making a post but didn't have the patience to dig up the good clips I would have wanted. Thanks for doing it right.

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posted by languagehat at 12:19 PM on May 18, 2010

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posted by el_lupino at 12:26 PM on May 18, 2010

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posted by Saxon Kane at 12:32 PM on May 18, 2010

That's a shame, he was brilliant. I'd just discovered him a few weeks ago, and he was at the top of my list to see in the next year.

Listen to this.
posted by phrontist at 12:42 PM on May 18, 2010

Oh. Oh my. I'm heading off to listen to Steal Away a few times in a row.

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posted by .kobayashi. at 1:07 PM on May 18, 2010

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posted by fingers_of_fire at 2:03 PM on May 18, 2010

Here's a longer version of that video with Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. Also well worth a listen.
posted by motty at 6:23 PM on May 18, 2010

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posted by rdone at 8:42 PM on May 18, 2010

I'm heading off to listen to Steal Away a few times in a row.

Me too.

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posted by tangerine at 12:56 AM on May 19, 2010