Lisa Tipton - Hank Jones with the Meridian String Quartet

Hank Jones with the Meridian String Quartet

Hank Jones with the Meridian String Quartet (LRC). One of the great jazz pianists with bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Dennis Mackrel, and a string quartet, with convincingly “swinging” writing for classical string players by Manny Albam. Recorded in 1990.

Hank Jones has recorded in many different settings over the years, but this bop-third stream session blending a piano trio with a classical string quartet is one of his more unusual sessions. Jones, accompanied by bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Dennis Mackrel, is the primary soloist, though there is space for Reid as well, while the string quartet primarily provides color and contrast for the trio. The ten standards are arranged with flair by Manny Albam (though his name is missing entirely from the credits to the Laserlight reissue). While this sort of date is an acquired taste for some jazz fans, it is by no means a typical "with strings" session, due to Jones' considerable chops and Albam's imaginative charts. Highlights include the brisk bossa nova setting of "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" and the dramatic, upbeat scoring of "Caravan." ~ Ken Dryden Recorded at Clinton Studios, New York, New York on November 15 & 16, 1990. Personnel: Hank Jones (piano); Lisa Tipton, Sebu Sirinian (violin); Racheal Evans (viola); Deborah Assael (cello); Dennis Mackrel (drums). Recording information: Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY (11/15/1990-11/16/1991). Arranger: Manny Albam. Personnel: Hank Jones (piano); Rufus Reid (bass); Dennis Mackrel (drums). Meridian String Quartet: Sebu Sirinian, Lisa Tipton (violin); Rachel Evans (viola); Deborah Assael (cello).