 Hank Jones NEA Jazz Master, pianist, bandleader, and composer Hank Jones will appear at Yoshi's in San Francisco on Wednesday, February 4th and Thursday, February 5th with shows at 8 pm and 10 pm. Jones will be performing with John Clayton on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums.has recorded more than 60 albums under his own name and thousands as a guest. He has recorded with or accompanied such jazz greats as Cannonball Adderley, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Lester Young. This weekend he will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in a special ceremony on Saturday, February 7th in Los Angeles and will be acknowledged at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards telecast on February 8th, 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS Television.
The eldest surviving member of a prolific Jazz musician family which included the late drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter/composer Thad Jones, pianist Hank Jones continues the legacy by recording and playing at concerts and festivals around the world. As one of the few surviving Jazz greats photographed in 'A Great Day in Harlem ', he has also participated in other historical events such as accompanying Marilyn Monroe when she sang 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' to the late President John F. Kennedy. Hank Jones, a member of the famous jazz family that includes brothers cornetist Thad and drummer Elvin, has served as a pianist in a vast array of settings, always lending a distinctive, swinging sensibility to the sessions. Although born in Mississippi, Jones grew up in Pontiac, Michigan, listening to such performers as Earl Hines, Fats Waller, and Art Tatum. A performer by the time he was 13, Jones played with territory bands that toured Michigan and Ohio. In one such band he met saxophonist Lucky Thompson, who got him a job in the Hot Lips Page band in 1944, prompting Jones' move to New York. Once in New York, Jones became exposed to bebop, embracing the style in his playing and even recording with Charlie Parker. Meanwhile, he took jobs with such bandleaders as John Kirby, Coleman Hawkins, Andy Kirk, Billy Eckstine, and Howard McGhee. He toured with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic from 1947-51. As a result, he became Ella Fitzgerald's pianist, touring with her from 1948-53. These experiences served to broaden his musical palette and sophistication. A consummate freelancer, Jones found work with artists such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Milt Jackson, and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. The versatility Jones acquired through such affiliations served him well when he joined the staff of CBS as a studio musician, remaining for 17 years. Although his studio work found him working on productions like the Ed Sullivan Show, Jones continued his touring and recording experiences in a variety of settings. His broad range and ability to fit in different settings also landed him in Broadway stage bands, where he served as pianist and conductor for such shows as Ain't Misbehavin'. Jones was the first regular pianist in brother Thad's co-led orchestra with Mel Lewis, beginning in 1966. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Jones continued to be much in demand for record dates and tours. Among his affiliations was the Great Jazz Trio, a cooperative unit with Ron Carter and Tony Williams, who were later supplanted by Buster Williams and Ben Riley. Jones has also experienced his share of piano duos, with the likes of Tommy Flanagan -- with whom he became acquainted when both were developing around the Detroit area -- George Shearing, and John Lewis. As a leader and valued sideman, Hank Jones can be found on thousands of recordings.
Hank Jones biographic information was adapted from the NEA, www.nea.gov.
Yoshi’s in San Francisco is located at 1330 Fillmore. Visit www.yoshis.com for ticket information. |
SF Bay Area 
Thursday, 29 July 2010
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