Thad Jones

Thad wrote his first jazz arrangement at age 13 when he was a trumpet player in his uncle’s band in his native Pontiac, Michigan, along with brothers Hank (piano) and Elvin (drums). In the 1940’s he served in the army, led a band of his own, and played with other bands before joining the Count Basie band in 1954. Nine years later he left Basie and began arranging for singers, small groups, and the big Harry James Band.

In 1965 Thad and drummer Mel Lewis formed their award-winning jazz orchestra. For the next 13 years this amazing band became an American jazz institution. They played Monday nights at the Village Vanguard in NYC on an almost continuous basis, won countless polls in “Down Beat,” and recorded a series of albums that remain popular today, including “Consummation,” “Central Park North,” “Live At The Village Vanguard” and “Suite For Pops.”

In 1979 Thad moved to and settled in Copenhagen, where he conducted the Danish Radio Big Band and later formed his own Eclipse big band featuring an illustrious mix of players from America and Europe.