Two Pianos, Seven Years Later
Alternate takes that reveal how much two masters can find in the same harmonic space.
More Delights arrived in 1985 as a curiosity — alternate takes from a 1978 session with Tommy Flanagan, released seven years after the original Our Delights (1978). For Hank Jones, this was deep catalog work, neither a statement nor a turning point, just a chance to hear how two pianists approached the same material differently across multiple passes.
The appeal is modest but real. Jones and Flanagan were consummate professionals, and their interplay on these duets shows no sign of wear or routine. Both men had spent decades absorbing stride, swing, and bebop, and they move through standards and jazz originals with the ease of musicians who've already found their voice. There's no strain, no attempt to prove anything. Flanagan's touch leans toward delicacy; Jones settles into a warmer, more grounded sound. On repeated listens, the alternates reveal small choices — a reharmonization, a different entry point, a shift in who leads and who supports.
This is an album for fans who already know Jones's work and want to hear him in relaxed, intimate company. It's not the place to start, and it's not a career highlight. But if you've sat with his trio records and want to hear him think through melody and harmony without the pulse of bass and drums, More Delights delivers exactly that — two serious pianists, unhurried, discovering what another take might offer.
Where next?
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