Hank Jones
Trio with Mads Vinding & Al Foster
Storyville Records
www.storyvillerecords.com
By George W. Harris

Sometimes, a record comes out that simply reminds you why you liked jazz in the first place. This is one of those gentle reminders, delivered back in 1991 (where has it been hiding?!?) by the sadly missed and recently-departed-to-glory-son-o-church-deacon Hank Jones. A bebop pioneer, he shows his allegiance to the timeless music with an hour’s worth of wondrous trio material recorded n Copenhagen with kindred spirits Al Foster/dr and Mads Vinding/b.

No major surprises here, but then neither is the sunset and sunrise, both of which are part of our lives that we take for granted, but when observed closely add infinite richness in our lives. His superior sense of swing on tunes like “Bloomdido,” “Up Jumped Spring” and “Four” are perfect displays of this joyful art, while more reflective songs like “When Will I Know You?” (where did THIS song come from?!?) or “Midnight Sun” have a reflective romanticism that is in a major lack of supply these days. Foster and Vinding each are allowed time to show their technical wizardry, and more important, their elegance and taste. In this day of musicians sounding like everyone and no one, it takes a record like this to show the shallowness of most else of what we listen to. Just like the crowds being amazed at Jesus’ teaching, when you come across the real thing, everything else seems immediately shallow in comparison. Find this one, and thank me later.