MAO pays homage this time to the trumpeter/cornetist and arranger/composer Thad Jones (1923-1986), the younger brother of Hank and older brother of Elvin.

Thad Jones became well-known during his long period (1954-1963) with Count Basie’s Orchestra, sharing solo duties with Joe Newman. While with Basie, Jones had the opportunity to write some arrangements and he became a busy freelance writer after 1963. Near the end of 1965 he organized a big band with drummer Mel Lewis that played Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. During the next decade The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (although always a part-time affair) became famous and gave Jones an outlet for his writing. His composition A Child Is Born became a regular standard, along with many other fine pieces like Fingers, Little Pixie, and Tiptoe.

Jones’ big-band arranging style was unique, especially from the standpoint of featuring dissonant voicings in a tonal context. This required the members of his big band to play correctly in tune, otherwise the dense chords he wrote would not sound correct. The orchestra was arguably the most influential big band since the swing era, initially made of all-stars, but over time it endeavoured to showcase new talent (e.g. Jon Faddis). Jones’s arrangements proved to be highly influential upon modern composers such as Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer (who is also an alumnus), Jim McNeely, Bill Kirchner, Richard DeRosa, Bob Mintzer, Jerry Dodgion, and many others. His songs built upon the innovations previously pioneered by jazz composers such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus.

In 1978, Jones surprised Lewis by suddenly leaving the band and moving to Denmark, an action he never explained. He wrote for the Danish Radio Orchestra and led his own group, Eclipse.

(Source: Wikipedia, allmusic)