Visiting Artists in Jazz, Spring, 2005
Hank Jones, one of the world’s most revered pianists, visited Harvard University in April 2005 for a four-day artist residency, “Thanking Hank: A Salute to Hank Jones.” Events included a concert featuring Jones with the Harvard Jazz Bands and educational sessions with students and the public regarding his career and creative process. Tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, a Grammy Award winner, joined the festivities to honor his collaborator. The residency was presented by the Office for the Arts at Harvard and Harvard University Jazz Bands, and made possible with the support of the Richard J. Scheuer, Jr. Fund and the Office of the President, Harvard University. Events were documented for the Office for the Arts’ jazz archive.
Hank Jones was officially greeted on April 7 by University Marshal Jackie O’Neill in Wadsworth House, an 18th century structure that once served as George Washington’s temporary headquarters. Later the same day, in the “heart” of historic Harvard Yard, the Faculty Room in University Hall, Jones performed a solo recital to a wildly enthusiastic group of Harvard students and staff. The artist graciously introduced each of ten standards that included a blistering rendition of “6 on 4” by Oliver Nelson and a richly harmonized, poignant interpretation of Thelonious Monk’s own “Monk’s Mood.”
Throughout his Harvard residency, Hank Jones rehearsed and conversed with 36 undergraduates from the Sunday and Monday Jazz Bands and generously joined them in an impromptu three-hour jam session. He also met with six graduate students from Harvard’s Department of Music to discuss his career, including working with such jazz greats as Sarah Vaughn, Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald.
On April 8 Jones was celebrated at a formal luncheon by faculty from Harvard, Berklee College of Music, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the New England Conservatory, as well as Boston jazz journalists and Harvard students and staff. All hailed Jones with personal reflections, including the sharing of out-of-print LP recording covers. Through the Office for the Arts’ Learning From Performers program, Jones participated in a public conversation about his music, moderated by Tom Everett, Director of Bands. Before a-standing-room-only crowd Jones coached pianists Charlie Frogner ‘06 and Corey Bernhard ’05 in a master class and then improvised with them, four hands, two pianos.
While visiting Harvard, Jones was an on-air guest of Steve Schwartz’s WGBH-FM “Jazz From Studio Four.” Interviews were also broadcast on Harvard radio WHRB-FM and WBUR-FM’s “Here and Now,” which also airs on 45 National Public Radio affiliates.
At the April 10 concert Hank Jones was introduced by a 1997 video of him performing “Willow Weep for Me.” While the video faded out, the master himself appeared on stage as if by magic, completing his “video solo” live. This was followed by a solo excursion through “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning” which at times demonstrated his stride expertise. The variety of musical environments that he played with—from student quintets and big bands to duets with Joe Lovano—showcased Jones’ versatility and imaginative harmonic palette. The concert concluded with a jam session based on a 1990 Buck Clayton tune (written for the Harvard Band) where Lovano traded solos with tenor saxophonist Kyle Nasser ’05 and alto saxophonist Marcus Miller ’08. Hank Jones played single notes in successive octaves as he alternated his position on the piano bench with Charlie Frogner ’05. “Being with Hank Jones has been an unparalleled experience in my life,” said Frogner.
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Jazz Programs at Harvard University were initiated in 1971 by Director
of Bands Tom Everett and have developed with the Office for the Arts
at Harvard since 1976. Artists such as Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet,
John Lewis, Max Roach, J.J. Johnson, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, Randy
Weston, Lester Bowie, Andrew Hill, Carla Bley, and Steve Lacy have participated.
The purpose is to honor artists who have made a significant contribution
to jazz and encourage their creativity in a new environment, share their
mastery with students, and bring their music to the public.
