UNCONVENTION22: Jon Hendricks: Musician

"Miles Ahead - the title says it all - Miles was ahead of everybody else! "Blues for Pablo’ - there's depth in that you know.  

The treatment that Spain received from Franco is awful. 

So we can tell the story in that album and then tell whatever Miles did. 

Miles got into it himself - he said 'it sounds as if like I'm Spanish' you know. He's into it, he’s really into it. 

I told Judith that people are gonna think that those lyrics* wrote themselves - cos they come from nowhere, but they cover a whole lot. 

WE - "Your current project with Pete Churchill based on Miles Ahead - so that record has inspired you both to discover and create your own response to the album." 

Jon - I like those things that open. 

Jon starts to sing, laughs and says - “Now after that you gotta have somethin’! You and me are gonna work! Soon as I find out how to write!!” 

Judith enters the room. Jon “What you got?” Judith - “I have some albums – the Miles Ahead, Freddie Freeloader, Evolution of the Blues Song, Thelonious Monk, the first Hendricks, Lambert and Ross, another Miles Davis Porgy and Bess then I have Basie from ’41 to ’51.” 

WE - “The cover (Miles Ahead) matches your jacket Jon!!” 

Judith – “Yes the colours are right!” 

Jon laughs – “Oh man!” 

After the photographs were taken Jon spoke warmly about two of his close friends Kurt Elling and Erroll Garner. 

How Kurt seized a great opportunity at one of Jon's vocal workshops when Jon asked for a volunteer to come onto the rehearsal room stage. Kurt sprang up and their friendship began.  

Jon thought about 'His brother' - Erroll Garner. 

“When Erroll Garner came back home from tour he would call me up to sing. When we met we'd embrace and say "I love you man." 

'Concert by the Sea' is a great favourite of Jon's, he asked his Judith to play the recording - he was moved to mime Erroll playing an invisible piano, his heart was with his great friend. 

On the wall hangs the powerful poetic picture of another old friend. John Coltrane playing soprano sax signed by one of my favourite photographers - the peerless Roy DeCarava. 

It's a masterpiece in a moment.  

Jon talked about it how DeCarava seemed to have made the notes visible - they were "flying from the horn." 

Jon Hendricks: At home, New York City, 26th March 2015 

Miles Davis: Miles Ahead released 1957 

Jon Hendricks 

*Jon Hendricks and Pete Churchill have been working on a major piece based on Miles Ahead which will be performed by the London Vocal Project in New York and London. More 

Roy DeCarava