Brothers
Hank Jones and
Elvin Jones met on record dates relatively few times during their long careers, but
Elvin's taking over the drum chair in
Hank's on-again, off-again
Great Jazz Trio is a welcome addition. Together with bassist
Richard Davis, the
Jones brothers make sparks fly in this session of very familiar works, and all three men are in top form.
Elvin's polyrhythms seem to ignite his elder brother in the hard-driving opener, "Caravan."
Davis brings the late
Milt Hinton to mind with his imaginative line underneath
Hank's dancing piano, along with
Elvin's immaculate brushwork. The leader's elegant treatment of the gorgeous ballad "A Child Is Born" (written by their late brother
Thad) takes on a new poignancy. The pianist also keeps the often hackneyed "Satin Doll" fresh by adding a bit of dissonance.
Davis' arco bass adds a humorous touch to "I'm Old Fashioned." The final track is a jaunty solo by
Hank of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" that suggests the influence of
Earl Hines. Sadly, this CD is evidently the final recording by the two brothers, as
Elvin Jones passed away from heart failure in 2004. ~ Ken Dryden