Oliver Jones, a 91-year-old award-winning pianist from Montreal's Little Burgundy neighbourhood, died on July 22. His funeral service at Union United Church featured tributes to his life and legacy, including performances by musicians such as Ranee Lee and the Dr. Oliver Jones Trio. Over 50 years of music and travel were remembered in eulogies delivered by family members and friends, including a touching tribute from his widow, Monique Leclerc Jones. The event celebrated Jones' impact on the jazz community and his dedication to supporting young musicians.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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?”
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
he → eulogize → crowd
Get breaking National news
The service was a tribute to Jones’ impact on the jazz community, with speeches and performances by musicians like Ranee Lee and Kim Richardson.
asserted
service → get → Lee
The Dr. Oliver Jones Trio performed one of his own compositions, “Lights of Burgundy.”
asserted
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.
asserted
who → ’ → decade
Jones died July 22 at age 91.
asserted
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.
asserted
pianist → win → sister
Jones became a member of the Order of Canada and earned many other awards and distinctions.
asserted
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.
asserted
he → support → Festival
“He’s been a pillar,” said Alain Simard, founder of the festival, before the funeral.
asserted
Simard → say → funeral
“He had such humility and kindness, infinite kindness, and he couldn’t imagine that he would have that success.”
asserted
he → have → success
- Summerland businesses face another blow as water advisory keeps doors closed
-
asserted
advisory → face → doors
Rise in Nova Scotia shark sightings prompts calls for better beach monitoring
-
asserted
Rise → prompt → monitoring
Calgary’s tech sector sees North America’s highest growth 3 years and counting
asserted
sector → see → counting
- U.S. alcohol may go back on Manitoba shelves, but Kinew urges customers to buy Canadian
uncertain
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.
asserted
he → meet → pianist
“It’s hard just condensing 45 years into a few minutes,” he said before the service.
asserted
he → ’ → service
He recalled a music tour he and Jones did in Africa, during which Jones insisted on organizing concerts for children.
asserted
Jones → recall → children
“It wasn’t part of the agenda, it was him saying, I want this done.
asserted
this → say → agenda
And to me, that’s him,” said West.
asserted
West → ’ → me
Rouleau met Jones a number of times over the years.
asserted
Rouleau → meet → years
“He was always very attentive, always smiling and kind.
asserted
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.
asserted
she → make → world
Cliche-Rivard highlighted the importance Jones had on the neighbourhood.
asserted
Jones → highlight → neighbourhood
“The whole community is in mourning,” he said.
asserted
he → say → mourning
Outside the church, rows of mourners attentively watched the service, projected on a screen.
asserted
rows → watch → screen
“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.
asserted
He → have → body
He just was a pure person,” he said.
asserted
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.
asserted
music → pack → church
They closed the service with emotional renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Hymn to Freedom” as Montreal said farewell to Oliver Jones.
asserted
Montreal → close → Jones
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
