AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' Musical Director Hank Jones Dies At 91

Accordning to The New York Times jazz pianist Hank Jones died Sunday at Calvary Hospital Hospice. He was 91.

Jones was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Born into a musical family Jones began studying piano at an early age and became influenced by Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum. By the time he was a teenager Jones was performing locally in Michigan and Ohio. While playing with territory bands in Grand Rapids and Lansing in 1944 he met Lucky Thompson, who invitEd Jones to work in New York City at the Onyx Club with Hot Lips Page.

In 1947 Jones began touring in Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, and from 1948 to 1953 he was accompanist for Ella Fitzgerald. Jones also made several recordings with Charlie Parker, which included 'The Song Is You.'

In the last 1970s Jones became involved with the Broadway musical AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' which won the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical, the show won an additional two Tonys and was nominated for another two.

During the late 1970s and the 1980s Jones continued to record as an unaccompanied soloist, most notably the Great Jazz Trio. Some of his later recordings are For My Father with bassist George Mraz and drummer Dennis Mackrel, a solo piano recording issued in Japan under the title Round Midnight, and as a side man on Joe Lovano's Joyous Encounter. Jones made his debut on Lineage records, recording with Frank Wess and with guitar player Eddie Diehl, but also appears on West of 5th with Jimmy Cobb and Christian McBride on Chesky Records. He also accompanied Diana Krall for "Dream a Little Dream of Me" on the album compilation, We all Love Ella.