# Jazz Pianist Hank Jones just passed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806 "2010-05-17T20:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806/1 "2010-05-17T20:03:35Z")
MSNBC Article [here](http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37194759/ns/today-entertainment/) > [@](#): > > Jazz pianist and composer Hank Jones, whose 70-year career included a stint as Ella Fitzgerald’s pianist and Marilyn Monroe’s accompanist when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy, has died, his manager said Monday. He was 91. > [@](#): > > A tireless musician who performed his blend of swing and bebop until the end, Jones came from a family of jazz musicians who included brother Thad, a trumpeter, composer and arranger, and brother Elvin, a drummer known for the polyrhythmic beat that propelled John Coltrane’s classic quartet. An old Cafe Society thread where I strongly recommended a Hank Jones CD duet with saxophonist Joe Lovano [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=449658) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806/2 "2010-05-17T21:23:04Z")
It’s a big loss, but his was a life to be celebrated! To live to be 91, to have made beautiful music for over 70 years and still be in the prime of your creative life - what an accomplishment! So sorry to see you go, but so, so grateful you were ever here, Hank! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806/3 "2010-05-18T00:31:05Z")
Have you ever seen [this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt17_Pu6X2g), by the way? “I Got Rhythm” - he sure did! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806/4 "2010-05-18T15:09:42Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Have you ever seen [this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt17_Pu6X2g), by the way? “I Got Rhythm” - he sure did! Very cool - what a clean melodic line; he made it look effortless. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-pianist-hank-jones-just-passed/539806/5 "2010-05-18T15:50:41Z")
I met Mr. Jones once at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho in 1995 or 96. He was performing at the festival and our college jazz band was staying at the same hotel as many of the performers. I got to chat with him (and also Lionel Hampton) for a bit and he signed an autograph for me. He couldn’t have been nicer.