Hank Jones, the piano-playing elder brother of drummer Elvin Jones and the late trumpeter Thad Jones, is gifted with a light style that belies the soulful depths of his best work. At 80, he's still exploring new avenues, as demonstrated by this aural document of a concert held during the fifth Hank Jones Piano Workshop in Osaka, Japan.
Jones, bassist George Mraz and drummer Dennis Mackrel are featured during the disc's first half on "Love For Sale," the Claus Ogerman-penned title track and a pair of the Hank Jones originals. The Winds Jazz Orchestra (of the Osaka College of Music) conducted and arranged by Katsuhiko Tanaka, chimes in with the trio on the second half for a pairing that's pleasant, if less than revelatory. Then again, the album-closing "A Child is Born" and "Armageddon" are well worth the wait.
