Along with Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Hank Jones was one of the defining pianists to come out of the bebop era. Of the three, his style was the most elegant and lyrical, aging like a fine wine over the years. This 2 disc 42 song collection finds him in a variety of settings ranging from solo to quintet.
His approach never changed over the years, and he was adept at bopping with the best as on a session with Paul Chambers/b, Kenny Clarke/dr and Bobby Jaspar/fl on “Sunday In Savannah” and “Minor Contention” . His striding hands are like a stripped down Art Tatum on “You’re Blasé’” and “Blues For Lady Day” and he has a warm way of taking on show tunes as demonstrated on “Gigi” and “The Night They Invented Champagne”. He stretches out a bit with Donald Byrd/tp, Kenny Clarke/dr on “Almost Like Being In Love” and “Don’t Blame Me” and glistens on some interpretations from Porgy and Bess during “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”. Timeless digits.