Grand jazz master pianist and octogenarian
Hank Jones is accompanied here by bassist
George Mraz and drummer
Dennis Mackrel. The program is a collection of jazz and pop standards that
Jones has undoubtedly played countless times before, and it matters not a whit. His sense of refinement, elegance, and swing saturates the proceedings. Whether it's on the graceful cover of
Al Foster's "Paulette" with its elongated spaces or on an uptown version of
Monk's "Bemsha Swing,"
Jones is a supreme melodist. His readings of
Ellington and
Strayhorn here are beyond reverential and are journeys of subtle harmonic discovery (check out "Lotus Blossom"). The reading of
Harold Mabern, Jr.'s "Grace of God (There but for the Grace of God)" is simply glorious. In a career full of winners, add this one to the list. ~ Thom Jurek