Slide Show
The Friends of Jazz Organization have come together along with radio station 88.1 fm KKJZ.Org and Keyboard Concepts to sponsor this wonderful jazz salon in honor of a man known in this town at the best friend of jazz, David Abell, tonight presenting the piano great Hank Jones.
This is the first time that I have had the opportunity to experience music here at the Fowler Museum at UCLA. Tonight, the word experience is especially prevalent because Hank Jones, a true national treasure who represents every essence of the word, will perform with his wonderful trio of John Clayton on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums. If I yelled out loud, “Can I get a witness”, everyone in the place would reply a thunderous, “Amen’.
Many folks came together to make this salon happen and
proceeds from tonight’s performance go toward contributions to help jazz
students at UCLA. Two other major cats that have been producing jazz music for
over six decades Gerald Wilson and Kenny Burrell along with Hank are all from
the motor city of
Hank and Kenny have known each other since childhood and Kenny remembers how many of the cats in the neighborhood looked up to Hank and his brothers as they were all coming up and learning the music. Later this year both Gerald Wilson and Hank Jones will be honored in celebration of their 90th birthdays.
Friends of jazz are exactly who are in the house tonight. I feel like George Clooney up in here because I know so many of these patrons of jazz personally and I can tell you for a fact that these people support, respect, adore, admire and understand what it takes to love this music let alone perform it and make it you life. 89 is a serious number when it comes to years on this earth and Hank has fought off health battles as well as the rigors of age, the road and the business to be here in this moment smiling, delighting and creating a lifetime of melody!
I spoke with Hank shortly after his return home from a little health stint a few months back with heart problems. He sounded as strong as he looks today and his internal metronome is allowing him to play magnificently!
There is lots of room to play in trio settings and Hang is
as versatile as he glides and swims through the arrangements of such familiar
tunes as “Body & Soul”, “Star Eyes”, “What is This Thing Called Love”,
“Autumn Leaves”, “Bluesette”, “But Beautiful”, “Stella by Starlight” and Joe
Henderson’s classic “Recorda Me”. So romantic,
so lyrical and the old school rules the swing! It is evident that the lush beauty of the
standards has been some of the most wonderful material for Hank over the years.
Tonight is an evening of standards and even though we all know the music so well, when you listen to the facility of the personal approach, the way that the melodies and rhythm are crafted with such timing, precision and effortless mastery, you begin to understand the essence and nature of a time that existed when these tunes were composed. There is so much dance in the music and the delight that exists in the air is evidence of the heart warming and heart felt sound that these three elements provide.
Just like old school, Hank introduces each tune and there is the excited anticipation from the audience as to how the trio is going to lay out the sound for us. John Clayton has his eyes glued on Hank for most of the performance. He is feeding off of the energy, soul and spirit of the man while sweetly accompanying and soloing with such tenacity that you can visualize the lovely scenic imagery as he plays. The exchanges are so special and represent a blend of love and humanity that is entrenched in the music. Joe Labarbera is swinging and smiling as he provides just the right touch and feel for the occasion; deep down in the serious pocket with lots of air and space left for everyone’s imagination.
Hank is feeling the music, as his expressions during and after playing a tune are so beautiful. Witnessing the smile of a man who is happy, loving life and the music, makes us all feel ever the more blessed to be here and have our lives enhanced by that love. Precision and execution are so pristine; you really can breathe and experience the classical essence of jazz performed at its finest. For humor and character, Hank tosses in a little “Eleanor Ruby” riff that I am sure Paul McCartney would appreciate. Our hearts are all waltzing in three quarter time!
After the intermission, pianist Mike Melvoin conducts a one on one interview with Hank. Hank has a wonderful sense of humor which he displayed with much charm as he and Mike had their conversations. Here are some of the answers and the Hank Jones outlook on life and the music…
a. Respect what the composer had in mind and play the melody first before improvising on the composition
b. Focus on the music weather there is a singer or not. Don’t get in the way of the continuity of thought from the soloist.
c. There
must have been something in the
d. His parents believed in the talent and worked hard to provide the best that they could for the Jones family
e. Hanks parents had thousands of records and a player piano which shaped his approach to the music. Teddy Wilson, Earl ‘Father’ Hines, Fats Waller etc.
f. Worked with Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw and learned from the two different styles of band leading
g. Influenced by a prodigy sister who was playing concerts at age twelve before a fatal accident on thin ice
Shortly after the interview, Hank was presented with an
award from the Friends of Jazz!
There are lots of singers in the house and you know that they would just love to be accompanied by such a stellar rhythm section. One singer that Hank has been working quite bit with lately is the Italian sensation Roberta Gambarini. She got up and took “My Romance” and “Skylark” to those gorgeous places of sweetness in the music! A wonderful evening from a National Treasure, Hank Jones, the beauty of a man, his dedication and extraordinary contribution to the art form.
LeRoy Downs
