Thad Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thad Jones
|
|
|---|---|
Thad Jones
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thaddeus Joseph Jones |
| Born | March 28, 1923 Pontiac, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 1986 (aged 63) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader |
| Instruments | Trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn |
| Years active | 1954-1986 |
| Labels | A&M, Blue Note, Debut |
| Associated acts | Count Basie, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk |
Thaddeus Joseph Jones (born March 28, 1923 – died August 20, 1986) was an American jazz musician. He was a talented trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. Many people called him "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists."
Contents
Thad Jones's Life Story
Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, USA. His parents were Henry and Olivia Jones. He came from a very musical family with 10 children. His older brother, Hank Jones, became a famous pianist, and his younger brother, Elvin Jones, was a well-known drummer.
Thad taught himself how to play music. He started performing professionally when he was just 16 years old. During World War II (from 1943 to 1946), he played in U.S. Army bands.
Joining the Count Basie Orchestra
After his time in the military, Thad joined the famous Count Basie Orchestra in May 1954. He was a featured soloist on many popular songs. These included "April in Paris" and "Shiny Stockings."
But Thad's biggest impact on the Basie band was his work as an arranger and composer. He wrote almost two dozen songs and arrangements for them. Some of his well-known pieces were "The Deacon" and "H.R.H." (which stood for Her Royal Highness). His beautiful song "To You" was even played by the Basie band and the Duke Ellington Orchestra together.
Forming His Own Band
In 1963, Thad left the Basie Orchestra. He moved to New York City to work as a freelance musician and arranger. In 1965, he teamed up with drummer Mel Lewis to create the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
This group started with informal jam sessions late at night. Top musicians in New York would gather to play together. They began performing regularly at the Village Vanguard in February 1966. The band quickly became very popular. Thad led this group for 12 years. They even won a Grammy Award in 1978 for their album Live in Munich. Thad also taught music at William Paterson College in New Jersey. Today, this college has the Thad Jones Archive, which keeps his original music and old photos.
Life in Denmark
In January 1979, Thad made a big move to Copenhagen, Denmark. Many other American jazz musicians had also moved there. In Copenhagen, he became the leader of The Danish Radio Big Band. He also married a Danish woman named Lis.
Thad helped turn the Danish Radio Big Band into one of the best in the world. You can hear their amazing sound on a live recording from the Montmartre in Copenhagen. In July 1979, Thad started another big band called Eclipse. He recorded a live album with them, also named Eclipse. Thad continued to compose for the Danish Radio Big Band. He also taught jazz at the Royal Danish Conservatory in Copenhagen. During this time, he studied music composition more formally. He also started playing the valve trombone.
Returning to the Basie Orchestra and Later Years
In February 1985, Thad returned to the U.S. He took over leading the Count Basie Orchestra after Count Basie passed away. Thad led the Basie band on many tours. He also wrote arrangements for recordings with singers like Caterina Valente and the Manhattan Transfer. However, he had to step down due to health issues.
Thad returned to his home in Copenhagen for the last few months of his life. He passed away on August 20, 1986, at Herlev Hospital. In his later years, a lip injury affected his trumpet playing. But his skills as a composer and arranger grew even stronger. His most famous composition is the jazz song "A Child Is Born".
Thad Jones had a six-year-old son, also named Thad, with his wife Lis. He also had a daughter, Thedia, and a son, Bruce, in the U.S. He was buried in Copenhagen's Vestre Kirkegård Cemetery. There is even a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, called "Thad Jones Vej" (Thad Jones Street).
See also
In Spanish: Thad Jones para niños
