A Child is Born and Thad Jones
Episode description
(62) “A Child Is Born” and Thad Jones
Standards Rating 8 Difficulty Rating 4
Thad Jones (1923–1986) was a pioneering jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. A key figure in Count Basie’s Orchestra (1954–1963), he crafted classics like The Deacon and To You. In 1965, he co-founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, establishing it as a premier big band through legendary Village Vanguard performances. Moving to Denmark in 1979, he revitalized the Danish Radio Big Band and formed Eclipse. He briefly led the Count Basie Orchestra before health issues forced his return to Copenhagen, where he passed away in 1986.
Thad Jones’ most famous composition, “A Child Is Born” (1969) is a jazz ballad later given lyrics by Alec Wilder. Its 30-bar form in 3/4 time features lyrical phrasing and rich harmonies. A staple of jazz repertoire, the tune has been recorded by artists like Tony Bennett, Bill Evans, and Dianne Reeves, embodying Jones’ melodic brilliance and harmonic depth.