Hank Jones pinch-hit for an old friend Saturday night.
The legendary pianist and his quartet of bass player George Mraz, drummer Dennis Mackrel and saxophonist Jesse Davis subbed for the Billy Taylor Trio in the third concert of the Hal Leonard Jazz Series.
Dr. Taylor is ill and has cancelled all his tour events. He turned to an old friend in Jones as a sub and he couldn't have picked a better one.
{INSERT_RELATED}Unfortunately, Jones played to a less than capacity audience at the Pabst Theater, as some Taylor fans stayed home.
But, nobody who attended the concern went home unhappy, as Jones and his quartet glided through a variety of jazz, including many songs made popular by Jones in his more than 60 years as a pianist.
Taylor once said of his old friend, "This is a gentle man, and it shows in his music." Jones does have a gentle, mellow style. He seems to be almost caressing the keys.
This style fit best in the J. J. Johnson ballad, "Lament," and in "A Child Is Born," composed by Thad Jones, one of Hank's younger musician-brothers.
But, Jones and his quartet also adapted the easy-listening style to Miles Davis' blues piece, "Walkin'," and other up-tempo songs.
Jones has been known as a mentor and nurturer of younger musicians all his life. In an almost predictable format, all four members of the quartet would start playing a song. Then, Jones would do a couple minutes of primarily solo playing.
Davis would then take over and almost stole the show on a few songs. He was at his best in "Polka Dots and Moon Beams."
Mraz would follow and make the bass sound like it was humming. Mackrel would be next. He has an incredibly soft touch on the drums in the more mellow songs. After Mackrel's solo, all four musicians would join in again.
Jones is called "the father of contemporary jazz piano." He has played with Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Cannonball Adderly and other legends of jazz. He is a member of the International Jazz Hall of Fame.
Since April is Jazz Month, Jones could not have been a better choice. The Leonard Series pinch-hit one legend for another.
The Leonard Series concludes its season Sat., May 18 with pianist Benny Green and his trio at The Pabst Theatre.
Gregg Hoffmann writes The Milwaukee Sports Buzz and The Brew Crew Review columns for OMC on a weekly basis. He also is a lifelong fan of jazz.
