Pianist Hank Jones Dies at 91

Jazz pianist Hank Jones belonged to one of the most important jazz families ever. He and two of his brothers, Elvin and Thad, contributed to some of the most important advancements in jazz history. Hank, who was born in 1918 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was a top call pianist during the 1940s, when swing's popularity began to wane, and bebop took its place as the mainstream style in jazz. He played with Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others.

Hank Jones died Sunday, May 16th in New York City. He was 91 years old, and one of the last remaining musicians who was active in jazz both before and after bebop was developed.

Read Jones' profile, as well as this interview with Jones that I was lucky enough to conduct in January of 2009, after he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

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