Hank Jones - R.I.P.

[Ron Thorne]

Here's a relatively recent article from Jazz Times, written by Don Heckman in Los Angeles.


Hank Jones/Jazz Times

[Ron Thorne]

And, for some perspective, a slightly earlier (2004) article from Jazz Times, written by David R. Adler.

Hank Jones/Jazz Times - 2004

[ran]

I once saw Hank Jones for 4 straight nights at the old Catalina Bar and Grill. Elegant clarity with a purpose to create beauty.

[Ron Thorne]

Man, what memories you must have from those nights, ran. I'm very envious.

I really like your characterization.

[Mike Schwartz]

I have a miriad of Hank Jones memories in concert; one of them with the 3 brothers in action together at Carnegie Hall on the bill of a George Wein festival date, which included the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra and small group combinations throughout that evening.

Last time that I can recall was a few years ago at Stanford in a trio format.
Well into his 80's expecting a frail man to come out (he was missing dates here and there for health reasons) he absolutely sprung onto the stage to perform a magnificent concert!

[ran]

The Last Time. I can recall a few that I saw the last time , Diz , Harold Land , Benny Carter , just to name a few. As I look back , it amazes me the level of professionalism that they had. It's not just a musician thing but that work ethic is something special.

[Xavier]

I recently picked up "For My Father" which has George Mraz on bass and Dennis Mackrel on drums. Both Jones and Mraz are excellent with Mackrel in more of a supportive role. Low key, after hours feel to the session - Jones must have been 90 years old or close to it when he recorded this session. Sad to hear the news.

[rollhead]

Anyone been following the New York Times/Hank Jones flap?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30pubed.html

the blog post that caused the kerfuffle
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-final-refuge/

[Ron Thorne]

I'm not as young and mentally sharp as I once was, but I'm a bit puzzled by the following statement.

"Mr. Jones had left it locked and deadbolted. Mr. Ramirez, 66, took a hammer and large chisel, bashed a hole in the door, stuck his hand through and opened it."

Did Mr. Jones have the only key(s) to that door, even though he was a renter? A chisel, hammer and damage to his own property was a better choice for entry by Mr. Rameriz than a locksmith? Strange.

Contact with Mr. Jones' family prior to going into his private living space would have been the right thing to do following his death.

[me wag]

A key doesn't open a deadbolt.

[Ron Thorne]

A key doesn't open a deadbolt.

I suppose that depends upon your definition of "deadbolt". We have what's described as a deadbolt on our front door which is only actionable with a key from the outside and a knob on the inside.

Assuming that's the case, however, how did Mr. Jones lock the deadbolt from outside his room, then?

[me wag]

Ok, good point. I assumed he meant one of those twist locks that are separate from the key lock that assure that no one can get in from the outside even with a key.

Since it says earlier that Mr. Jones died in a hospice in the Bronx, the landlord must not have had another key immediately available like you said.

But we digress...

[lonely-at-the-top]

I just hate these RIP's
Mr Jones had been a good friend to the JazzBaltica Festival where I had the pleasure of seeing him several times. This year he was supposed to play a duo with Dave Holland Instead of cancelling, Mr Holland will now be accompanied, or rather completed by McCoy Tyner on this "Farewell Mr Jones" event

[ran]

Anyone been following the New York Times/Hank Jones flap?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30pubed.html

the blog post that caused the kerfuffle
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-final-refuge/

I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. The lines of behavior and the ethics that were once easy to see and appreciate have been blurred. This struggle between blogging and news troubles me.

On one hand I would think that covering a mans demise and death would be the one thing that wouldn't get lost in the course of the new world order.

On the other hand the new world order commands that we know everything , warts , pimples and all. Where the news is , is no longer the purpose. Seemingly the purpose has turned into making news where none really exists.

[Al in NYC]

The main problem here seems to be a young reporter (at least I hope he's young), who suddenly saw himself close to an easy story - he apparently lives across the street - and got all excited. It seems that he was too excited, stupid, unthinking, and ill-informed to know that it's illegal in the State of New York for a landlord to enter (not to mention break into) the apartment of a deceased person without a court order. So instead of a piece about the last productive days of a long-lived and wonderful musician and gentleman, he instead wrote a largely sensationalist and rather incoherent piece that depicted the commission of a crime.

[ran]

The main problem here seems to be a young reporter (at least I hope he's young), who suddenly saw himself close to an easy story - he apparently lives across the street - and got all excited. It seems that he was too excited, stupid, unthinking, and ill-informed to know that it's illegal in the State of New York for a landlord to enter (not to mention break into) the apartment of a deceased person without a court order. So instead of a piece about the last productive days of a long-lived and wonderful musician and gentleman, he instead wrote a largely sensationalist and rather incoherent piece that depicted the commission of a crime.

I would be more then happy to accept that as an explanation if it were in any other publication , in fact if it were in any other publication it probably would have never made the head lines that it had. Maybe I'm fucked up ( call me silly , or any other thing that comes to mind ) but this was the New York Times.

[Lois Gilbert]

Hank Jones Memorial will be on Saturday June 26 2-5pm at Abyssinian Baptist Church, NYC

more info to come