His itinerary for this year was already quite impressive. Hank Jones died on Sunday at the age of 91. Best known for his long stint at Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic and his accompanying years with Ella Fitzgerald, Hank Jones recorded his first album under his own name in 1950. By then, he had already performed with Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and Billy Eckstine.

Hank Jones has always been in great demand as a session musician and his piano can be heard on thousands of records. In total, he recorded 60 albums under his own name, played and conducted on Broadway, accompanied Lester Young, Frank Sinatra, Nat Adderley, Diana Krall and thousands more, had various highly successful trios, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammies in 2009.

Even though he's known for his sensitive and elegant style, he was inspired by New York's leading bop musicians which led to the work with impresario Granz. It is also said that he was the pianist behind Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday Mr President to John F. Kennedy in 1962.

Jones' last recording was Hank & Frank, Vol. 2 with Frank Wess.