Sir Roland Hanna

Sir Roland Hanna studied at Eastman College and the Juilliard School, and in the 1950s worked with Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, and Sarah Vaughan. In 1967, he joined the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, remaining a regular until 1974. During the '70s, Hanna was also a member of the co-operative New York Jazz Sextet and Quartet, an acoustic jazz outfit formed in protest of the growing commercial ascendancy of fusion. A marvellously inventive pianist, Hanna’s work reflected his thorough understanding of the roots of jazz. He was a masterly accompanist and an excellent big band player, while his solo work was based around clear, logical ideas delivered with considerable vitality. His title denotes an honorary knighthood bestowed upon him by the Republic of Liberia.