Porgy and Bess (Hank Jones album)

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars. On All About Jazz, Franz A. Matzner noted, "Supported by Milt Hinton and Kenny Burrell, as well as brother Elvin's immeasurable percussive abilities, Hank's playing stands out crisply in its almost minimalist approach. Interestingly, Elvin displays a light touch which may contrast with his usual pyrotechnic image, but is here perfectly matched to Hank's deliberative style, enhancing the subdued, intimate feel of this unusually pared down production". In JazzTimes, Thomas Conrad was less enthusiastic and wrote, "Jones' encounters with icons like "Summertime" and "It Ain't Necessarily So" bring no important insights. They are mannered, highly stylized and flawless".

Track listing

All compositions by George Gershwin

1. "Summertime" - 2:34
2. "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York" - 2:11
3. "My Man's Gone Now" - 3:44
4. "A Woman Is a Sometime Thing" - 2:42
5. "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" - 2:47
6. "It Ain't Necessarily So" - 3:26
7. "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" - 2:30
8. "Oh, I Can't Sit Down" - 4:06
9. "Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" - 3:28
10. "I Ain't Got No Shame" - 2:16

Personnel