Joe Bonner

{{for-multi|the American politician|Jo Bonner|the English rugby league footballer|Joseph Bonnar}}

Joe Bonner (April 20, 1948 – November 20, 2014) was an American jazz pianist. Influenced by McCoy Tyner and Art Tatum, he specialized in the hard bop and modal jazz styles.{{cite news|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/148767-pianist-joe-bonner-dies-at-66|title=Pianist Joe Bonner Dies at 66|last=Jeff Tamarkin|author-link=Jeff Tamarkin|date=1 December 2014|publisher=Jazz Times|accessdate=31 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.caldwellkirk.com/obituary/Joseph-Leonard-Bonner-Jr./Denver-CO/1456971|title=Joseph Bonner, Jr. Obituary|accessdate=31 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/joebonner|title=Joe Bonner @ All About Jazz |publisher=All About Jazz|accessdate=31 May 2015}}

Biography

Bonner was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and studied at Virginia State College,{{cite web |title =Joe Bonner |publisher =All About Jazz |url =http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5167 |accessdate =2009-12-31 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110416064156/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5167 |archive-date =2011-04-16 |url-status =dead }} but indicated that he learned more about music from musicians he worked with. In the 1970s, he played with Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Billy Harper, among others.{{cite web |title=Joe Bonner Biography |last=Yanow |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Yanow |publisher=Allmusic |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p6150/biography|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate=3 April 2010}} He died of heart disease in Denver at the age of 66.{{Cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/features/tributes-and-obituaries/pianist-joe-bonner-dies-at-66/|title = Pianist Joe Bonner Dies at 66}}

Discography

=As leader=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year recorded

!Title

!Label

!Personnel/Notes

1974

|The Lifesaver

|Muse

|Solo piano

1975

|Triangle

|Whynot

|Trio, with Clint Houston (bass), Billy Hart (drums)

1974–76

|Angel Eyes

|Muse

|With Billy Harper (tenor sax), Leroy Jenkins (violin), Juini Booth (bass), Jimmy Hopps (drums), Linda Sharrock (vocals)

1979

|Parade

|SteepleChase

|Trio, with Johnny Dyani (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

1981

|Impressions of Copenhagen

|Theresa

|With Eddie Shu (trumpet), Holly Hofmann (flute), Carol Michalowski and Peggy Sullivan (violin), Carol Garrett (viola), Beverly Woolery (cello), Paul Warburton (bass), J. Thomas Tilton (drums)

1983

|Devotion

|SteepleChase

|Solo piano

1983

|Suburban Fantasies

|SteepleChase

|Duo, with Johnny Dyani (bass)

1985

|Suite for Chocolate

|SteepleChase

|With Khan Jamal (vibraphone), Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Leroy Lowe (drums)