Roland Hanna
Encyclopedia
Roland Hanna was an American
Jazz pianist.
Hanna studied classical piano as a boy, but was strongly interested in jazz. This increased after his time in military service.
He studied at Eastman School of Music
and Juilliard School
. He worked with several big names, such as Benny Goodman
and Charles Mingus
, in the 1950s although only briefly in both cases. Then from 1967 to 1974 he was a regular member of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra
. During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet
.
Roland Hanna was in semi-retirement for most of the 1980s, though he played piano and wrote the song “Seasons” for Sarah Vaughan
’s 1982 album Crazy and Mixed Up
, and returned to music later in the decade. He is usually referred to as "Sir Roland Hanna" as he was given an honorary knighthood by President William Tubman
of Liberia
.
Sir Roland Hanna, along with Jimmy Heath
, was a professor of jazz at the Aaron Copland
School of Music at Queens College (CUNY) in Flushing, NY.
With Elvin Jones
With Jim Hall
With Herbie Mann
With Idris Muhammad
With Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jazz pianist.
Hanna studied classical piano as a boy, but was strongly interested in jazz. This increased after his time in military service.
He studied at Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. He worked with several big names, such as Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
and Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
, in the 1950s although only briefly in both cases. Then from 1967 to 1974 he was a regular member of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band
The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis around 1965. The band performed for twelve years in its original incarnation, and included a 1972 tour of the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. The band won a 1978...
. During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet
New York Jazz Quartet
The New York Jazz Quartet was founded by pianist Roland Hanna. First consisting of flautist Hubert Laws, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham, in 1974 the lineup changed to Frank Wess, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Ben Riley. Richie Pratt and Grady Tate also contributed. The group...
.
Roland Hanna was in semi-retirement for most of the 1980s, though he played piano and wrote the song “Seasons” for Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
’s 1982 album Crazy and Mixed Up
Crazy and Mixed Up
Crazy and Mixed Up is a 1982 album by the American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan.-Track listing:# "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" - 4:02# "That's All" - 4:04...
, and returned to music later in the decade. He is usually referred to as "Sir Roland Hanna" as he was given an honorary knighthood by President William Tubman
William Tubman
William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman was a Liberian politician. He was the 19th President of Liberia from 1944 until his death in 1971....
of Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
.
Sir Roland Hanna, along with Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
, was a professor of jazz at the Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
School of Music at Queens College (CUNY) in Flushing, NY.
As leader
- Roland Hanna Plays Harold Rome's Destry Rides Again with George DuvivierGeorge DuvivierGeorge Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab...
, Roy Burns, Kenny BurrellKenny BurrellKenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:...
, 1959 - Easy To Love with Ben Tucker, Roy Burns, 1959
- Child of Gemini with Dave HollandDave HollandDave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....
, Daniel HumairDaniel HumairDaniel Humair is a drummer, jazz composer and painter.He is widely renowned and became Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 1986.He has played with many jazz performers notably Martial Solal, Gerry Mulligan and Eric Dolphy....
, 1971 - Sir Elf, Soloalbum, 1973
- The New Heritage Keyboard QuartetThe New Heritage Keyboard QuartetThe New Heritage Keyboard Quartet is an album by American jazz keyboardists Roland Hanna and Mickey Tucker recorded in 1973 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 2 stars.-Track listing:...
with Mickey TuckerMickey TuckerMickey Tucker is an American jazz pianist and organist.Tucker began on piano at age six, and played in church when young. He did studio work in the 1960s with R&B musicians such as Little Anthony & the Imperials and Damita Jo; he accompanied comedian Timmy Rogers...
, Richard Davis, and Eddie GladdenEddie GladdenEddie Gladden was an American jazz drummer.Gladden played professionally from 1962 in his hometown of Newark...
, 1973 - Stephane Grappelli Meets the Rhythm Section with Stephane GrappelliStéphane GrappelliStéphane Grappelli was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands....
, George MrazGeorge MrazGeorge Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians...
, Mel LewisMel LewisMel Lewis was an American drummer, jazz musician and band leader. He was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents....
, 1973 - Perugia, Live at Montreux '74, Soloalbum, 1974
- Informal Solo, Soloalbum, 1974
- 1 X 1 with George Mraz, 1974
- A Jazz Hour With Roland Hanna Walkin with Stephane Grappelli, George Mraz, Mel Lewis, 1974,
- Let It Happen with The Jazz Piano Quartet, 1974
- The New York Jazz Quartet In Concert In Japan with Ron CarterRon CarterRon Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
, Ben RileyBen RileyBen Riley is an American hard bop drummer known for his work with Thelonious Monk, as well as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, and as member of the group Sphere...
, Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
, 1975 - Porgy & Bess with George Mraz, 1976
- Sunrise, Sunset, Super Duo with George Mraz, 1976
- 24 Preludes Book 1 with George Mraz, 1976
- The New York Jazz Quartet: Song of The Black Knight with George Mraz, Richard PrattRichie PrattRichie Pratt is a professional musician. He embarked upon a career as a professional musician on the New York scene in the early 1970s, it was as much due to unanticipated intervention as anything else...
, Frank Wess, 1977 - Sir Elf Plus 1 with George Mraz, 1977
- At Home With Friends with George Mraz, Richard Pratt, 1977
- Glove with George Mraz, Motohiko Hino, 1977
- Time For The Dancers with George Mraz, Richard Pratt, 1977
- The New York Jazz Quartet: Surge with George Mraz, Richard PrattRichie PrattRichie Pratt is a professional musician. He embarked upon a career as a professional musician on the New York scene in the early 1970s, it was as much due to unanticipated intervention as anything else...
, Frank Wess, 1977 - The New York Jazz Quartet/Blues For Sarka with George MrazGeorge MrazGeorge Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians...
, Grady TateGrady TateGrady Tate, , is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer.He has played with Lional Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count...
, Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
, 1978 - Roland Hanna Plays The Music Of Alec Wilder, Soloalbum, 1978
- A Gift From The Magi, West 54 Records, 1978
- Bird Tracks: Remembering Charlie Parker, Soloalbum, 1978
- Play For Monk with George Mraz, 1978
- 24 Preludes Book 2 with George Mraz, GP 3154, 1978
- Rolandscape with George Mraz, Ben Riley, 1978
- This Must Be Love with George Mraz, Ben Riley, 1978
- Impressions with Major HolleyMajor HolleyMajor Holley was an American jazz upright bassist.Holley attended the prestigious Cass Technical High School. Holley played violin and tuba when young and started playing bass while serving in the Navy...
, George Duvivier, Alan DawsonAlan DawsonAlan Dawson was a respected jazz drummer and widely influential percussion teacher based in Boston. He was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania and raised in Roxbury, MA. Serving in the Army for Korean War duty, Dawson played with the Army Dance Band while stationed at Fort Dix from 1951-1953...
, Oliver JacksonOliver JacksonOliver Jackson , aka Bops Junior, was an American jazz drummer.Jackson played in Detroit in the 1940s with Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Wardell Gray, and had a variety show with Eddie Locke called Bop & Locke...
, 1978 - Trinity with Hans Koller, Attila ZollerAttila ZollerAttila Cornelius Zoller was a Hungarian born Jazz guitarist. He won Deutscher Filmpreis for Beste Filmmusik in Germany for the film Das Brot der frühen Jahre in 1962.-Biography:...
, 1979 - Och jungfrun gick åt killan …, Soloalbum, 1979
- Piano Soliloquy, Soloalbum, 1979
- Swing Me No Waltzes, Soloalbum, 1979
- The New York Jazz Quartet in Chicago with George Mraz, Ben Riley, Frank Wess, 1981
- The New York Jazz Quartet: Oasis with George Mraz, Ben Riley, Frank Wess, 1981
- Gershwin Carmichael Cats with Chet BakerChet BakerChesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
, Larry CoryellLarry CoryellLarry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
, Ronnie CuberRonnie CuberRonnie Cuber is a jazz saxophonist. He has also played in Latin, pop, rock and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he has also played tenor sax, soprano sax and flute, the latter on an album by Eddie Palmieri. As a leader, Cuber is known for hard bop and Latin jazz...
, Peter ErskinePeter ErskinePeter Erskine is an American jazz drummer and composer. He has enjoyed a long and successful career as a session drummer, recording and touring with many famous jazz and rock artists, including Steely Dan and Weather Report...
, Sammy FigueroaSammy FigueroaSammy Figueroa is an American percussionist born in The Bronx, New York. At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raices....
, Gary King, Jimmy Madison, Kermit Moore, George MrazGeorge MrazGeorge Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians...
, Rufus ReidRufus ReidRufus Reid is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.-Personal history:...
, Mike RichmondMike Richmond (musician)Mike Richmond is an American jazz bassist.Richmond played guitar as a youth but picked up bass during high school. He attended Temple University and taught and played locally in the late 1960s...
, David SpinozzaDavid SpinozzaDavid Spinozza is an American musician , who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man....
, and Vincent TaylorVincent TaylorVincent Taylor may refer to:*Vincent A. Taylor, U.S. Representative from Ohio*Vincent Kenyon Taylor, Canadian cricketer*Vinnie Taylor of Sha Na Na*Vince Taylor, British singer*Vincent Taylor *Vince Taylor... - Romanesque with George Mraz, 1982
- Manhattan Christmas, Soloalbum, 1987
- Round Midnight, Soloalbum, 1987
- Persia My Dear with Richard Davis, Frederick Waits, 1987
- This Time It's Real with Jesper ThiloJesper ThiloJesper Thilo is a Danish jazz musician, mainly known as a tenor saxophonist, alto saxophonist and clarinetist. He is considered to be one of the top European straight-ahead jazz musicians of the post-1970 period...
Quartet, SLP 4145, 1987 - The Bar with Sir Clint HoustonClint HoustonClinton Joseph Houston was an American jazz double-bassist.Houston played with George Cables and Lenny White in the house band at Slugs, a club in New York City, then played with Nina Simone , Roy Haynes , Sonny Greenwich and Don Thompson , Roy Ayers , Charles Tolliver , Stan Getz , and Woody Shaw...
, Lewis NashLewis NashLewis Nash is an American jazz drummer. According to Modern Drummer magazine, Nash has one of the longest discographies in jazz. and has played on over 400 records by musicians, earning him the honor of being named Jazz's Most Valuable Player by the magazine in it's May, 2009 issue...
, 1988 - When You Wish Upon a Star with Ron Carter, Ben Riley, 1989
- Memoir with Eiji Nakayama1990
- Duke Ellington Piano Solos, Soloalbum, 1991
- Sir Roland Hanna Quartet Plays Gershwin with Jon Burr, Ronnie Burage, Bill EasleyBill EasleyBill Easley plays alto, tenor and the flute, and the clarinet. He worked with George Benson in the late 60s Isaac Hayes in the 70s. He Attended Memphis State University in the 1970s. He also did sessions at Stax and Hi Records . Easley moved back to New York in 1980 and has recorded sessions for...
, 1993 - Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume 32, Soloalbum, 1994
- Jazz Sonatas with Dave BrubeckDave BrubeckDavid Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
, Roland Dick HymanDick HymanRichard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
, 1994 - Hush A Bye with Eiji Nakayama, Seiji Komatsu, 1996
- 3 for All with Jon Burr, Bucky PizzarelliBucky PizzarelliJohn Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli is an American Jazz guitarist and banjoist, and the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and upright bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli has also worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden in...
, 1996 - The Three Black Kings with Richard Davis, Andrew CyrilleAndrew CyrilleAndrew Charles Cyrille is an avant-garde jazz drummer.Cyrille was born in Brooklyn, New York into a family with a mother from Haiti. He began studying science at St...
, 1997 - Royal Essence: An with of Ellington with Davey Yarborough, 1999
- Ancestral Light with George Mraz, 1999
- Milano, Paris, New York: Finding John Lewis with George Mraz, Lewis Nash, 2001
- Dream with Paul WestPaul WestPaul West may refer to:*Paul West , English soccer player*Paul West , British-born American writer*Paul West, pseudonym of Stephen Clarke...
, Eddie LockeEddie LockeEddie Locke was an American jazz drummer.Locke was associated with the Detroit jazz scene in the 1940s and 1950s, playing from 1948 to 1953 with drummer Oliver Jackson in a variety show called Bop & Locke...
, 2001 - Everything I Love, Soloalbum, 2002
- I've Got a Right to Sing The Blues: The Music of Harold Arlen, with Carrie SmithCarrie SmithCarrie Smith is an American blues and jazz singer.Smith was a member of a church choir that performed at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival...
, 2002 - Last Concert with Eiji Nakayama, Miboko Hazama, 2002
- Apres Un Reve with Ron Carter, Grady TateGrady TateGrady Tate, , is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer.He has played with Lional Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count...
, 2002 - Tributaries: Reflections on Tommy Flanagan, Soloalbum, 2003
As sideman
With Ron CarterRon Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
- All Blues (1973, CTI)
With Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
- Dear John C.Dear John C.Dear John C. is an album by American jazz drummer Elvin Jones featuring performances recorded in 1965 for the Impulse! label. The "John C." mentioned in the title is John Coltrane. The album was also released on SACD.-Reception:...
(Impulse!, 1965)
With Jim Hall
Jim Hall (musician)
James Stanley Hall is an American jazz guitarist.-Biography:Educated at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Hall moved to Los Angeles where he began to attract national, and then international, attention in the late 1950s...
- ConciertoConciertoConcierto is an album by Jim Hall sextet featuring Paul Desmond, Chet Baker, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd and Roland Hanna, produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at Van Gelder Studios April 16 and 23, 1975...
(1975, CTI)
With Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
- Glory of Love (1967, CTI)
With Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
- House of the Rising SunHouse of the Rising Sun (album)-Track listing:#"The House Of The Rising Sun"#"Baia "#"Hard To Face The Music"#"Theme For New York City"#"Sudan"#"Hey Pock A-Way"#"Pipe Stem" #"I Know You Don't Want Me No More"...
(1976, Kudu)
With Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
- Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra - Jazz At Lincoln Center: They Came To Swing (1992, Sony)
External links
- rahannamusic.com
- Sir Roland Hanna at allaboutjazz.com
- New York Times obituaryObituaryAn obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
, Roland Hanna,...Dies at 70