This week, Canadian jazz music icon Oliver Jones passed away at the age of 91.
I can’t say I know his music well, or listen to him often, but I do have one very fond memory of him, the day he played an impromptu performance at my Grandpa Anderson’s funeral. He played “Somebody to Watch Over Me”.
My Grandpa was also a jazz musician in Montreal, and I guess knew Oliver Jones through the local scene.
When the news broke of Mr. Jones’ passing this week, my uncle posted a photo of things he’d found from Mr. Jones when going through my grandparents belongings after my grandmother passed away. They included:
- Complimentary tickets to a show in Montreal
- A postcard to my grandparents while he was on tour in the UK
- the paperwork my grandpa filled out to nominate Oliver Jones for the Order of Canada (which he was awarded in 1993)
Thank you for the music, and being a friend to Grandpa, especially that sad day when we said goodbye about 30 years ago.
Rest in peace Mr. Jones.
Aside: Searching around yesterday, I came across a 2003 article by Montreal music journalist Len Dobbin. In it he mentions “the late Andy Anderson and I got hold of the latter and took him to Tiffany’s where Oliver Jones also headed…”, which, given the time and place, I’m sure was Grandpa.
Update: This post was updated with the Order of Canada nomination papers photo, and the name of the song performed at the funeral.