Hank Jones

[Milestones]

I've been listening to Steal Away the last couple of days.

In recent years I acquired a lot of stuff by Great Jazz Trio--most of it nearly three decades after I discovered jazz. What a treat to hear these records, especially the ones with Carter and Williams.

[Peter Friedman]

Hank Jones along with Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris and a half dozen others has long been one of my favorite jazz pianists.

Many of his wonderful recordings have been mentioned. Here are a few more under his leadership that I like, and that I believe were not referred to here. Beyond these are numerous sessions where Hank plays a sideman role.

Bluesette - Black & Blue

I Remember You - Black & Blue

For My Father - Justin Time

Hank and Frank (Wess) - Lineage

In Japan - All Art

[mjzee]

Listening now to "Bluesette." Marveling at his playing style; such a sure touch. He's not trying to beat you over the head, but the ideas are so good they're almost compositional. Truly a master; this is not lightweight stuff at all, though it is very enjoyable and swinging. Great accompaniment by George Duvivier and Alan Dawson, and a great program of tunes.

[soulpope]

Listening now to "Bluesette." Marveling at his playing style; such a sure touch. He's not trying to beat you over the head, but the ideas are so good they're almost compositional. Truly a master; this is not lightweight stuff at all, though it is very enjoyable and swinging. Great accompaniment by George Duvivier and Alan Dawson, and a great program of tunes.

simply a good piano trio recording .....

[jazzsoulfunk]

Listening now to "Bluesette." Marveling at his playing style; such a sure touch. He's not trying to beat you over the head, but the ideas are so good they're almost compositional. Truly a master; this is not lightweight stuff at all, though it is very enjoyable and swinging. Great accompaniment by George Duvivier and Alan Dawson, and a great program of tunes.

simply a good piano trio recording .....

Agreed, love it.

[Mark Stryker]

Just to piggyback on Jim's comments from a long time ago about Hank's comping on Dexter's "Ca' Purange," for me the real star of that otherwise rather marginal side is Thad Jones, who plays some wild-ass solos and who wasn't on a ton of small group records in that era. Back in the day -- 1973, I think -- Down Beat ran a transcription (by David Baker) of Thad's solo on the slow blues "Oh! Karen, O" -- a study in controlled, expressive dissonance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC_i3qcaRDg

[Lazaro Vega]

Hank Jones contributed "Vignette" (based on Sweet Sue, Just You) to The High and Mighty Hawk. There's also "Get Set." Dumb question: is that a contrafact, or a blues, or "just" an original....?

[Jack Pine]

On 11/30/2023 at 8:34 PM, Lazaro Vega said:

Hank Jones contributed "Vignette" (based on Sweet Sue, Just You) to The High and Mighty Hawk. There's also "Get Set." Dumb question: is that a contrafact, or a blues, or "just" an original....?

I'm not certain, but it sounds a bit like the changes to 'I Never Knew' by Gus Kahn. The melody is also somewhat reminiscent.

[Lazaro Vega]

it's "I Want To Be Happy" (per Jon-Erik Kellso)

[Teasing the Korean]

He did a very nice solo LP in the 1970s or 80s that I used to spin quite a bit.  Can't recall the title...

[Gheorghe]

Hank Jones has also a big follower in Austria, who tells about himself that he is the "Hank Jones Administrator" in Austria. 

[Jack Pine]

20 hours ago, Lazaro Vega said:

it's "I Want To Be Happy" (per Jon-Erik Kellso)

I defer to his ears for sure. Was happy to hear him on NPR recently: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/22/1197958759/fresh-air-draft-11-22-2023

19 hours ago, Teasing the Korean said:

He did a very nice solo LP in the 1970s or 80s that I used to spin quite a bit.  Can't recall the title...

Tiptoe Tap Dance?

 

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, Jack Pine said:

Tiptoe Tap Dance?

Yes, that's the one.  (I wasn't near my LPs at the time I posted.)

[Lazaro Vega]

On 12/12/2023 at 1:19 PM, Jack Pine said:

I defer to his ears for sure. Was happy to hear him on NPR recently: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/22/1197958759/fresh-air-draft-11-22-2023

Tiptoe Tap Dance?

 

Thanks for the link about The Ear Regulars on Fresh Air. That's what go me started on this as they quote "Sweet Sue" during their performance of "Vignette" on the new album "Live at the Ear Inn," on Arbors. Jon-Erik went to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp back in the 1970's. Just missed him coming to Blue Lake Public Radio with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (his replacement was good but I've yet to hear Kellso live. Someday!).

[Jack Pine]

On 12/14/2023 at 8:24 PM, Lazaro Vega said:

Thanks for the link about The Ear Regulars on Fresh Air. That's what go me started on this as they quote "Sweet Sue" during their performance of "Vignette" on the new album "Live at the Ear Inn," on Arbors. Jon-Erik went to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp back in the 1970's. Just missed him coming to Blue Lake Public Radio with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (his replacement was good but I've yet to hear Kellso live. Someday!).

Glad to share! Blue Laker from the 1990s myself, one of my best childhood memories for sure.

[Brad]

Smoke Jazz just released a Hank Jones record, Steve Davis Meets Hank Jones. It’s a little pricey at $30 for six cuts but you can buy a digital version from Bandcamp that’s a lot cheaper.