Died On This Date (May 16, 2010) Hank Jones / Acclaimed Jazz Pianist

Hank Jones
July 31, 1918 –  May 16, 2010

Hank Jones was a multi-Grammy nominated jazz pianist who came from a musical family that included brothers, Thad Jones and Elvin Jones.  An early adapter to the instrument, Jones began playing around his neighborhood in his early teens, and before he knew it, he was playing with Ella Fitzgerald.   That was from 1948 to 1953, after which he played with the likes of Charlie Parker, Benny Goodman and Cannonball Adderley, to name just of few of the greats with whom he collaborated.  Throughout the ’60s and early ’70s, Jones played in the CBS house band which afforded him the opportunity to play on the Ed Sullivan Show over the years.  One highlight was backing Frank Sinatra.  Jones released nearly 20 albums throughout his career, and played as a sideman on at least that many as well.  He stayed active nearly up to the time of his passing.  Hank Jones was 91 when he died on May 16, 2010.

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Died On This Date (April 9, 2008) Ozzie Cadena / Savoy Records Producer

Ozzie Cadena
September 26, 1924 – April 9, 2008

Ozzie Cadena was born in Oklahoma City in 1924, but soon moved to Newark, New Jersey with his family. After he served in WWII, Cadena enrolled in a New York music school where he studied the bass and piano. His first music job was on a jazz radio show back in Newark. It was there that he was hired by the legendary Savoy label to work as an in-house producer. During his eight years at Savoy, Cadena worked on recordings by the likes of Cal Tjader, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Esther Phillips, John Lee Hooker and many more. In the years after he left Savoy, he spent time at Prestige, Blue Note and Fantasy Records. Cadena moved his family to Hermosa Beach, California in the mid-‘70s and continued to work with the music he loved, mostly booking and promoting shows at jazz clubs around Los Angeles, including the legendary Lighthouse, known as one of the flashpoints of West Coast Jazz. Ozzie Cadena suffered a stroke in 2007 and passed away of pneumonia on April 9, 2008 at the age of 83.



Died On This Date (January 2, 2000) Nat Adderley / Jazz Legend

Nathanial “Nat” Adderley
November 25, 1931 – January 2, 2000

Nat Adderley was a respected cornet and trumpet player who made his mark in the hard bop style of jazz.  He and his brother, Cannonball Adderley, worked together often during the ’40s and ’50s, playing with the likes of Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, and J.J. Johnson.  Adderley began releasing his own albums in 1955, and over the course of his career put out over three dozen.  He was 68 when he passed away on January 2, 2000.

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Work Song (Keepnews Collection) - Nat Adderley