Jazz and gospel fill the church in Little Burgundy as Montreal honours Oliver Jones

The sounds of laughter, jazz and gospel music pumped through a modest church in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood on Thursday as mourners gathered for the funeral of legendary jazz pianist Oliver Jones.

The tears were flowing as family and friends shared stories about a generous, talented and humble man.

“I am mourning an angel,” said his widow, Monique Leclerc Jones, early in the service at Union United Church. “How can I say farewell, or even goodbye, to the angel who has been my whole life for a quarter of a century?”

Jones had played piano at the church since he was five years old and kept going back for most of his life.

Richard Jones also eulogized his father, recalling years of travel, friendship and golf.

“I like to imagine my dad in heaven now … with a huge smile on his face, joyfully making music with all the other musicians that went before him,” he told the crowd.

The service was a tribute to Jones’ impact on the jazz community, with speeches and performances by musicians like Ranee Lee and Kim Richardson.

The Dr. Oliver Jones Trio performed one of his own compositions, “Lights of Burgundy.”

“It’s great to have his music live (on) after him,” said bassist Éric Lagacé, who played with Jones for over a decade.

The award-winning pianist rose to stardom from the same impoverished Montreal neighbourhood as friend and mentor Oscar Peterson, studying piano as a child under Peterson’s sister Daisy.

Jones became a member of the Order of Canada and earned many other awards and distinctions.

During his life, he supported young musicians and championed the local jazz scene, performing year after year at the city’s International Jazz Festival.

“He’s been a pillar,” said Alain Simard, founder of the festival, before the funeral. “He had such humility and kindness, infinite kindness, and he couldn’t imagine that he would have that success.”

In his tribute, Jim West, Jones’ friend and producer for decades after they met in 1982, remembered the years of music and travel he shared with the pianist.