This year, we bade farewell to avant-garde pioneer Muhal Richard Abrams. Michael Hoefner/Wikipedia hide caption

Jazz singers, Dave Lambert (left), Annie Ross and Jon Hendricks with Canon L. John Collins on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in London in 1959. Jon Hendricks died on November 22 at the age of 96. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption

Johnny Mercer. William L. Gottlieb/Library of Congress via flickr.com hide caption

Jon Hendricks gives a clinic on vocalese at the 2007 Art of Jazz Festival. Smaku via Flickr hide caption

Al Jarreau says that Jon Hendricks' lyrics can appear simple, but contain "depths of meaning." Courtesy of the artist hide caption