Joe Bonner (April 20, 1948 – November 20, 2014) was an American jazz pianist. Influenced by McCoy Tyner and Art Tatum, he specialized in the hard bop and modal jazz styles.[1][2][3]
Biography
editBonner was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and studied at Virginia State College,[4] but indicated that he learned more about music from musicians he worked with. In the 1970s, he played with Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Billy Harper, among others.[5] He died of heart disease in Denver at the age of 66.[6]
Discography
editAs leader
edit| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Lifesaver | Muse | Solo piano |
| 1975 | Triangle | Whynot | Trio, with Clint Houston (bass), Billy Hart (drums) |
| 1974–76 | Angel Eyes | Muse | With Billy Harper (tenor sax), Leroy Jenkins (violin), Juini Booth (bass), Jimmy Hopps (drums), Linda Sharrock (vocals) |
| 1979 | Parade | SteepleChase | Trio, with Johnny Dyani (bass), Billy Higgins (drums) |
| 1981 | Impressions of Copenhagen | Theresa | With Eddie Shu (trumpet), Holly Hofmann (flute), Carol Michalowski and Peggy Sullivan (violin), Carol Garrett (viola), Beverly Woolery (cello), Paul Warburton (bass), J. Thomas Tilton (drums) |
| 1983 | Devotion | SteepleChase | Solo piano |
| 1983 | Suburban Fantasies | SteepleChase | Duo, with Johnny Dyani (bass) |
| 1985 | Suite for Chocolate | SteepleChase | With Khan Jamal (vibraphone), Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Leroy Lowe (drums) |
| 1987 | The Lost Melody | SteepleChase | Quartet, with Bob Rockwell (tenor sax), Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Jukkis Uotila (drums) |
| 1988 | New Life | SteepleChase | Trio, with Hugo Rasmussen (bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums) |
| 1988? | New Beginnings | Evidence | Most tracks solo piano; some tracks duo, with unknown (bass) |
| 1991 | Monkisms | Capri | Solo piano; released around 2001 |
| 2001? | Lights Out | Akashic | As The Bonner Party; quartet, with Prasanna Bishop (saxes), Artie Moore-Acoustic (bass), Charles Ayash (drums) |
| 2003 | The Art of Jazz Piano | Black Orchard | Solo piano |
| 2013? | Current Events | Cherry Sound |
Compilation
edit- Two & One (Steeplechase); with Johnny Dyani (bass)
As sideman
editWith Richard Davis
- Epistrophy & Now's the Time (Muse, 1972)
With Billy Harper
- Black Saint (Black Saint, 1975)
With Azar Lawrence
- Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974)
With Barbara Paris
- Where Butterflies Play (Perea Productions, 1992)
- P.S. I Love You (Perea Productions, 12/10/2000)
- Happy Talk (Perea Productions, 2002)
With Pharoah Sanders
- Black Unity (Impulse!, 1971)
- Live at the East (Impulse!, 1972)
- Village of the Pharoahs (Impulse!, 1973)
- Elevation (Impulse!, 1973)
- Love in Us All (Impulse!, 1972–73)
- Wisdom Through Music (Impulse!, 1973)
- Journey to the One (Theresa, 1980)
- Rejoice (Theresa, 1981)
With Woody Shaw
- Love Dance (Muse, 1975)
With Harold Vick
- Don't Look Back (Strata-East, 1974)
With The Visitors
- Motherland (Muse, 1975)
With Stephanie Hancock
- This Happy Madness (DaJazz, 2001)
References
edit- ^ Jeff Tamarkin (1 December 2014). "Pianist Joe Bonner Dies at 66". Jazz Times. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Joseph Bonner, Jr. Obituary". Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Joe Bonner @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Joe Bonner". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 2011-04-16. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Joe Bonner Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Pianist Joe Bonner Dies at 66".