Thad Jones

Jazz Legends

Trumpeter, composer/arranger Thad Jones born March 28, 1923, was the middle son in a family that also produced younger brother Elvin Jones, perhaps best known as John Coltrane’s longtime drummer, and pianist Hank Jones, who performed and recorded with almost everyone in his long career, as one of the first black musicians to have a long and fruitful career in the New York studios. Thad first made his mark on the national scene as a soloist and arranger/composer for the Basie band in 1954. When he moved to New York City in the 1960’s, he founded a big band he co led with drummer Mel Lewis that still plays weekly at the Village Vanguard, still playing much of the music Thad wrote. In 1979 he moved to Copenhagen, Denmark where he lead the Danish Radio Big Band, and taught at the Royal Danish Conservatory. In 1985 he took over leadership of the Basie Band, but tragically passed way in 1986 of cancer.