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.
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mourners → pump → 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.
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widow → flow → Church
“How can I say farewell, or even goodbye, to the angel who has been my whole life for a quarter of a century?”
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who → say → century
Jones had played piano at the church since he was five years old and kept going back for most of his life.
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he → play → 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.
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he → eulogize → crowd
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The service was a tribute to Jones’ impact on the jazz community, with speeches and performances by musicians like Ranee Lee and Kim Richardson.
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service → get → Lee
The Dr. Oliver Jones Trio performed one of his own compositions, “Lights of Burgundy.”
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Trio → perform → Burgundy
“It’s great to have his music live (on) after him,” said bassist Éric Lagacé, who played with Jones for over a decade.
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who → ’ → decade
Jones died July 22 at age 91.
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Jones → die → age
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.
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pianist → win → sister
Jones became a member of the Order of Canada and earned many other awards and distinctions.
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Jones → become → awards
During his life, he supported young musicians and championed the local jazz scene, performing year after year at the city’s International Jazz Festival.
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he → support → Festival
“He’s been a pillar,” said Alain Simard, founder of the festival, before the funeral.
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Simard → say → funeral
“He had such humility and kindness, infinite kindness, and he couldn’t imagine that he would have that success.”
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he → have → success
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advisory → face → doors
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sector → see → counting
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Kinew → go → Canadian
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.
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he → meet → pianist
“It’s hard just condensing 45 years into a few minutes,” he said before the service.
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he → ’ → service
He recalled a music tour he and Jones did in Africa, during which Jones insisted on organizing concerts for children.
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Jones → recall → children
“It wasn’t part of the agenda, it was him saying, I want this done.
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this → say → agenda
And to me, that’s him,” said West.
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West → ’ → me
Rouleau met Jones a number of times over the years.
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Rouleau → meet → years
“He was always very attentive, always smiling and kind.
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He → smile → ?
A kind man, a good man, and a great, great musician who made the city and Quebec shine around the world,” she said.
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she → make → world
Cliche-Rivard highlighted the importance Jones had on the neighbourhood.
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Jones → highlight → neighbourhood
“The whole community is in mourning,” he said.
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he → say → mourning
Outside the church, rows of mourners attentively watched the service, projected on a screen.
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rows → watch → screen
“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.
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He → have → body
He just was a pure person,” he said.
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he → say → ?
Despite the heat in the packed church, the audience cheered, sang and danced as the choir and soloists’ stirring music floated to every corner of the church.
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music → pack → church
They closed the service with emotional renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Hymn to Freedom” as Montreal said farewell to Oliver Jones.
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Montreal → close → Jones
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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