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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1979)
Payed Portland Observer Thursday. June 21.1979 SPORTS H O U R JOE’S PLACE Entertainment Guide 1801 N.E. A lberta i by Allen Junes / * will D R AFT you FOR O NLY 156 Days: Sat., Sun. & Mon. For Moro Information Call: 288 8786 SPECTRUM IN BLUE - I HANK JONES A l The (hrec adjectives which most consistently crop up when people describe Hank Jones are “ urbane,” “ elegant," and “ w itty.” Jones, who for the past 30 years has been one o f the very finest pianists to operate from within the mainstream o f jazz's rich tradition, and who has played and recorded w ith an astounding roster o f musicians, is currently en joying the most attention he has ever received from the public, the press, HANK JONES and the music business. Born in Pontiac, Michigan (a suburb o f Detroit) on July 31, 1918, Jones during the mid-Thirties learned from the great examples of A rt Tatum, Fats Waller, and, especially, Teddy Wilson. He was the first o f the three Jones brothers (the other two being Thad and Elvin) to leave Detroit for New York, the nation’s center o f jazz activity. Although his sensibility was rooted in the Swing Era, Jones matriculated into the New York scene during the flowering o f bebop. He had no trouble adapting to bop’s more rigorous harmonic and rhythmic requirements, and evolved a lucid style which ingeniously synthesized swing and bop into an approach that was personal and flexible. He could play with just about anyone. Jones cut his first record date in 1944, a session led by trumpeter Hot Lips Page and produced by Leonard Feather. He accompanied singer Billy Eckstine, played in the sextet o f bassist John Kirby, in trumpeter Howard McGhee’ s combo, with tenor great Coleman Hawkins, and on one o f the first (1947) l az? at the Philharmonic tours, where he met Ella Fitzgerald. He then was Ella’s ac companist from 1948 through 1953. Resuming his freelance status in New York, Jones, by the mid-Fifties. was firm ly established as one o f the class pianists in jazz. He worked in several combos with Benny Goodman between 1956 and 1958, began a 20-year association with CBS, and continued to be selected for an enviable series of record dates. The esteem in which Jones has been held by the jazz community is indicated by a partial list o f those who have asked him to play on their dates: Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Ella, Hawkins. M ilt Jackson, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Cole, Sonny Stitts, Jimmy Rushing, Oliver Nelson, Wes Montgomery, Ben Webster, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Ray Brown. Chet Baker, Kenny Burrell, and Bobby Hutcherson. Since June 1978, Jones has been affiliated with the Broadway hit musical A in ’t Misbehavin’, as conductor/pianist with the production’ s seven-piece band. But he still occasionally takes time o ff for concert tours. “ 1 think it's im portant to make personal appearances,” says Jones, “ to keep your name alive and to maintain contact with the people who hopefully buy and listen to your records.” “ A precise, nimble performer,” Whitney Balliett has called Jones, who "is distinguished by his beautiful touch.” Whatever material or format he chooses, the delightful fact is that Hank Jones is at the peak o f his powers and is sharing his music with the public as never before. T LOOK FOR THE BIG "T" "A Sure Sign of Good Taste" •r N' Sww »oi Link Sausage Boneless Rib Sleek c£A .»wi » * 3 * Book Review: 'Stevie Wonder' Maggie S. Morrison, fifth grade teacher at St. Stephens, a parochial elementary school in Southeast Port land, reviews “ Stevie Wonder,” the latest book by many, about Black heroes and heroines from the pen of Beth Pierre Wilson. Beth Wilson, author and teacher consultant, was herself born and educated in the Pacific Northwest. She has many friends in Portland where she has visited and has con ducted workshops in the Portland Public Schools in cooperation with The Links, Inc. by Maggie S. Morrison “ Stevie W onder’ ’ by Beth P. Wilson; illustrated by James Calvin; G.P. Putnam; 63 pages; $4.49, Most adults and children have lis tened, swayed back and forth, hum med, or danced to the music o f Stevie Wonder. His songs have ap peared high on the “ charts” fo r most o f the past ten years. Beth Wilson, teacher, has written a short, simple biography o f this blind, talented, am bitious young man. She tells o f his problems and set-backs in such a way that the reader doesn't feel the pathos that would ordinarilly tug at one's heart strings. Because she is a teacher, Mrs. Wilson seems to have written this biography to inspire, encourage, and challenge the young readers to per severe in spite o f one’ s handicap. The words in this book are easy to read, in large print, double spaced, and beautifully illustrated in black and white drawings. Parents, i f you have records or tapes o f this Black, blind genius in your home put this biography o f "Stevie Wonder” in your children's hands and urge your school librarian to make it available for inspirational or pleasure reading. Stevie Wonder said at the age o f eight, “ I like to make music.” I say that 1 w ould lik e your children to read his life story in words and pictures that they can enjoy. Rib Eye Steak J 3 * USDA C h a in la a t 1, upa-A II Apricot Nectar Pepper Lux Liquid Charcoal x Standby ............ 46 o i Cratctnl Ground Block ......................................... 4 o i $125 D itbw o thtng D etergent 25‘ O il label 39* 88* 88* ....................... 32 ox. r 14410 $.1. DIVISION S I. 20th A DIVISION 3933 S.I. FOW fU $.1. 72nd A RJkVU N .I. 74th A OUSAN N .I 1 Slh A FMMONT HIUSBORO-960 S i OAK W BURNSIDt at 21(1 . SAN RAFAH-1910 N .i. 122nd ». $1M Nroat Oreve-2329 RACIRC Oregon O ty-17» MOLAICA Canby-1031 S.W. l i t UOVO Œ NTIR T R A B E W E Sew, Show, Taste, Tell n On Sunday, June 24th, the Port land Section o f the National Coun cil o f Negro Women, Inc., will be presenting its annual Sew and Show and Taste and Tell from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Westminster Pres byterian Church, Great Hall, 1624 N.E. Hancock. t id County EEO SHOWPLACE LOUNGE Get ready for a Disco Rock explosion The BROS OWENS 8 top performers in a furious non stop dancing session that'll have you singing, dancing and playing all night with the action group that’s fired up the top spots around the country June 18-30 Ladies night Monday thru Thursday S h e r a t o n - A i r p o r t ,S ) Sheraton Motels 8 inns Worldwide 8235 Nf Airpor’ W ay/Portlond OR 97218/(503) 288 7171 bread The Xi NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED J IW | (Continued from page 1 column 6) ing: 1. ) That the Executive O ffice r (Don Clark) and the County Com missioners take a more active role in insisting an equal opportunity. 2. ) That the county conduct a needs assessment to identify the staff support necessary for the accurate and timely completion o f the duties of the Affirm ative Action office and evaluate the responsibilities o f the EEO representatives, who have responsibilities both to the A ffirm a tive A ctio n o ffic e r and to their department. 3. ) That the county develop a year end report to measure achievement toward goals. 4. ) T hat the county develop u n ifo rm , w ritte n guidelines and procedures and develop an A ffirm a tive Action Manuel. That the Per sonnel Division and Affirm ative Ac tion office be involved in the initial stages and provide assistance in recruitment and selection and design a system o f identifying persons for promotion or training. Statistics released in February of this year indicate that in a workforce of 2,453 persons, Multnomah County employs 128 Blacks, 24 Hispanics, 41 Asians, and fifteen Indians. M inori ties were concentrated in Service and Maintenance, protective service and para-professionals, with only 1.1 */• o f the officials and managers being Black. There were no H ispanic, Asian, or Indian officials or man agers. SAVE $ 5 At the PhoneCenter Store, you can be choosey. Pick out your new phone yourself. And, for each one you take home, you’ll save $5 on instaBahon charges. And, if you move, rem em ber to bring your old phones back. Well give you a total of $5 in credit. CPhoneCenter^tore @ MADE WITH PURE LIQUID VEGETABLE SHORTENING Baked just right for you! 'The hardest |ob of all it trying to look busy when you're not." William Feather U r Mxbay M a m Ph««- «W M l>»nry 1-r.rt« a « . pnrtu. r,t t,v Amrr, «, Corp