John Hicks

A longtime fixture of the brand new York Town jazz panorama, pianist John Hicks was an artist of unusual flexibility, moving effortlessly from pop requirements towards the avant-garde while retaining the dense physicality and intense energy which were the hallmarks of his approach. Created Dec 12, 1941, in Atlanta, Hicks was still a child when his preacher dad relocated the family members to LA. He spent the greater section of his teenage years in St. Louis, and counted among his classmates there the youthful Lester Bowie. Hicks’ mom was his initial piano instructor, and following a stint at Lincoln School in Missouri he went to the Berklee College of Music as well as the Juilliard College; he afterwards cited affects spanning from Fatty acids Waller to Thelonious Monk to Methodist cathedral hymns, and his catholic hearing tastes had been instrumental in shaping his far-ranging abilities as a new player. After touring to get bluesman Albert Ruler and hard bop tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, Hicks supported vocalist Della Reese throughout a 1963 NY golf club residency, and the town remained his house for the others of his existence. Within the wake of stints with Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson, Hicks became a member of Artwork Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1964, collaborating alongside famous brands trumpeters Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. 2 yrs later, he authorized on with vocalist Betty Carter, like Blakey an enthusiastic judge of growing skill. Upon exiting Carter’s music group in 1968, Hicks spent the rest of the 10 years with Woody Herman and came into the 10 years to follow like a first-call sideman. He also moonlighted as an educator, and through the early ’70s trained jazz and improvisation at Southern Illinois College or university. After support Carter on her behalf 1976 date Right now It’s My Switch, Hicks came back to her support group full-time. The publicity vaulted him to fresh renown, and in 1979 he finally led his personal studio effort, Following the Morning hours. With 1981’s VARIOUS OTHER Period, cut with bassist Walter Booker and drummer Idris Muhammad, Hicks also surfaced being a gifted composer, composing his best-known work, “Naima’s Love Melody,” honoring his young little girl. He documented prolifically within the years to check out, concentrating on single and little ensemble function including stints as person in the energy Trio as well as the Keystone Trio. He also offered because the regular pianist using the Mingus Dynasty Music group and for a while led his very own big music group. Hicks appreciated his greatest industrial success with some tribute LPs celebrating the music of his mentors and affects, highlighted by 1998’s Something to reside For (a assortment of Billy Strayhorn compositions), 2000’s Impressions of Mary Lou (Williams, needless to say), and 2003’s Fatha’s Day time (honoring Earl Hines). Hicks’ longest & most rewarding cooperation was his collaboration with flutist Elise Real wood, which released in 1983 and after many studio classes and trips culminated in relationship in 2001, around enough time of the launch of the duo recording Gorgeous Friendship. Hicks passed away suddenly on, may 10, 2006. Simply three days previous, he shipped his final efficiency at Harlem’s St. Mark’s United Methodist Chapel, where his dad offered like a minister ahead of his own loss of life. Hicks was 64 yrs . old.