Hank Jones is celebrating today his 86 birthday. Mr. Jones is one of my all times favorite pianists. His biography is not less than the jazz history. Many great pianists mentioned his name as their main influence. Among theses pianists you can find Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris and Sir Roland Hanna.
I wish Mr. Jones good health and all the best.
Now I am going to listen to "Lazy Afternoon".

Happy Birthday to a true gentleman of jazz!
86-year old and still going very, very strong.
Many happyh returns to Hank Jones!

Wow...86...too cool.

Not many musicians around with such style! Love Hank Jones! Glad I caught him live a few years ago. What a great musician! Happy birthday

ubu

Just listening to Hank with Joe Lovano, lovely, elegant playing from the pianist. Many happy returns Hank.

a gentleman indeed. happy birthday!

Can't say too much, Bentsy. It was an all star package, in a big concert hall, actually thought to headline Milt Jackson, but as he died a few months before, he was replaced by Bobby Hutcherson (who was absolutely boring and not showing the slightest interest in what was going on - not one good solo).
The musicians were: Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Mickey Roker and Hutcherson. Burrell and Jones were just great! Fluent, beautiful playing, and Burrell was MC-ing a bit, too. Very very nice person, it seems. Jones was just there, playing as great as always, not saying anything, not doing anything but play, but that's what he does best, anyway! Fond memories, for me, also as it was the only time I saw the late Ray Brown.

ubu

I'll celebrate the Jones Burrell birthdays with a renewed spinning of the Capitol 'Porgy and Bess' Hank Jones session (with Burrell, Milt Hinton and Elvin Jones playing arrangements by the one and only Al Cohn!)

happy birthday hank and kenny!

i saw hank jones last weekend on a double bill with clark terry. he performed several solo pieces then joined terry's band for a few tunes. he continues to play with great beauty and eloquence. we spoke briefly between sets, and he seemed genuinely moved when i offered my condolescences over elvin's passing. do not miss the opportunity to see him live!

Ubu, paid less than half of that sum for an original LP copy long time ago.
The session is out - along with the first Hank Jones Capitol album - on an excellent CD release 'The Talented Touch/Porgy and Bess' on the Okra-Tone label.
Great recent Mosaic-like CD reissue with photos by Francis Wolff.

I celebrated Hank's 86th last night by playing five hours of his music on my radio program. Lots of mnice calls and lots of mnice music. Playlist follows:

Friday, July 30, 7pm–midnight, WGBH 89.7
About this broadcast
CELEBRATING HANK JONES 86th BIRTHDAY born JULY 31, 1918
Listed by artist: selection, album (label)
7:05pm
Hank Jones: A Child Is Born, Live At Maybeck (Concord)
Charlie Haden/Hank Jones: Go Down Moses, Steal Away (Verve)
Hank Jones/The Great Jazz Trio: Six and Four, Autumn Leaves (441 Music)
7:26pm
Elvin Jones: Ray-El, Elvin! (Riverside)
Curtis Fuller: Vonce #5, New Trombone (Prestige)
Coleman Hawkins: I Mean You, The JJ Johnson Memorial Album (Prestige)
7:49pm
Abbey Lincoln/Hank Jones: The Nearness of You, When There is Love (Verve)
Frank Morgan/Hank Jones: You Must Believe in Spring,
You Must Believe in Spring (Antilles)
Joe Lovano: Like Someone In Love, I'm All For You (Blue Note)
8:09pm
Joe Lovano: I'm All For You, I'm All For You (Blue Note)
Kenny Dorham: La Villa, Jazz Contrasts (Riverside)
John Coltrane/Milt Jackson: Bags and Trane, Bags And Trane` (Atlantic)
8:35pm
Hank Jones: Blues For Lady Day; Yesterdays; You're Blase; Tea for Two; The Blue Room, Urbanity (Verve)
8:53pm
Jesse Davis: Portrait of Desiree, From Within (Concord)
Curtis Lundy: Crossroads, Just Be Yourself (Evidence)
Billy Pierce: Alone Together, Equilateral (Sunnyside)
9:15pm
Johnny Hartman: Don't You Know I Care, I Just Dropped by To Say Hello (Impulse)
Hank Jones: I Got It Bad, Favors (Verve)
Shelly Manne: Take The "A" Train, 2/3/4 (Impulse)
9:36pm
Hot Lips Page: The Lady in Bed; Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You,
Hot Lips Page 1940-1944 (Classics)
Stan Getz: Opus De Bop, Complete Savoy Recordings (Savoy)
Lester Young: Deed I Do, President Volume 5 (Blue Moon)
9:50pm
The Jones Brothers: Nice and Nasty, Keepin Up With The Jones (Metro Jazz/Verve)
Hank Jones: The Summary, Upon Reflection (Verve)
10:07pm
The Jones Brothers: Keepin Up With The Jones,
Keepin Up With The Jones (Metro Jazz/Verve)
Hank Jones: Upon Reflection, Upon Reflection (Verve)
10:27pm
Art Pepper: Yesterdays, The Intimate Art Pepper (Galaxy)
Warne Marsh: Star Highs, Star Highs (Criss Cross)
Benny Carter: People Time, Legends (MusicMasters)
10:49pm
Hank Jones: Thad's Pad; Things Are So Pretty in The Spring; Little Girl Blue; Odd Number, Urbanity (Verve)
11:04pm
Cannonball Adderley/Miles Davis: One For Daddy-O, Somethin Else (Blue Note)
Chet Baker: That Old Devil Called Love, Baker's Holiday (Emarcy)
Art Farmer: By Myself, Portrait of Art (Contemporary)
Roy Eldridge: Sunday, Little Jazz (Verve)
11:30pm
Charlie Parker: Laird Baird, Bird's Best Bop (Verve)
Dizzy Reece: Parker's Spiritus, Asia Minor (Prestige New Jazz)
Hank Jones: Anthropology, MAster Class (32 Jazz)
11:45pm
Hank Jones / The Great Jazz Trio: My Funny Valentine; Yesterdays,
Autumn Leaves (441 Music)
Hank Jones: Round Midnight, Master Class (32 Jazz)

i caught some of your show on the way back from rhode island. a fitting tribute to a great artist. thanks steve!

86 years young. Many more.

Listening to "The Talented Touch / Porgy And Bess" now - marvellous! Thanks for the recommendation! Never heard of that Okra-Tone label!
The photos are indeed beautiful. And it's always a pleasure to hear Barry Galbraith! What a forgotten master he is!

ubu