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John Hicks

Mr. Hicks, born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1941, was the eldest of five children. His parents, Reverend Doctor John J. Hicks and the former Pollie Louise Bledsoe of Atlanta, both deceased, moved to Los Angeles when Mr. Hicks was an infant. That is where Hicks received his first piano lessons under the tutelage of his mother.

When Hicks was fifteen, the family moved to Saint Louis, Missouri in order for the Reverend Hicks to take over the pulpit of Union Memorial Methodist Church. After graduating high school and attending Lincoln University, the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, and Julliard School of Music in New York City, Hicks relocated to New York City from St. Louis by accepting his first road gig with Della Reese. That was over 40 years ago.

John Hicks became so firmly established among the most in-demand, prolific jazz pianists and composers on the recording and live appearance scenes, critics permanently affixed the adjective "ubiquitous" to his name. As a leader or first-call sideman, playing inside or outside the chord changes, presenting sparkling ballads or burning up the keyboard at torrid tempos, Hicks was as versatile as he was omnipresent. He has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kennedy Center, Spivey Hall, and a host of international jazz festivals.

Mr. Hicks' varied influences include Fats Waller piano rolls, Methodist church music, George Gershwin, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. Among his musical mentors were such immortals as Lucky Thompson, Miles Davis and Clark Terry. Hicks also played road gigs with blues legends Little Milton and Albert King as well as other jazz greats Al Grey, Johnny Griffin and Pharaoh Sanders before he arrived in New York in 1963. John then worked with, among numerous others, Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson and Joe Henderson before becoming a full-fledged member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

After two years with the seminal Messengers band, John joined the Betty Carter Trio, another important incubator for world-class beboppers. His productive stints with the vocalist Carter propelled John's career as a recording artist into national and international notice. Mr. Hicks had the opportunity to perform in such places as Italy, Japan, Australia, Israel, France, England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Taiwan The intervening year also saw Hicks performing live and on record with a galaxy of jazz giants that included Sonny Rollins, Carmen McRae, Freddie Hubbard, Frank Foster, Roy Haynes, Sonny Stitt, Jon Hendricks and James Moody.

He additionally recorded several albums for both the Theresa (Evidence) and Disk Union with such cutting edge saxophone masters as David Murray, Ricky Ford & Arthur Blythe. He collaborated with fellow pianist Kenny Barron on an album on Candid. In the decade of the 90s, Hicks had further expanded his visibility and acclaim. His recorded works have included reunion meetings with Betty Carter to a solo concert at Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California to a variety of settings that have included artists Joshua Redman, Al Grey, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Charles Tolliver, Oliver Lake, Roy Hargrove, Gary Bartz, and Bobby Watson among others.

Although his exhaustive discography is inclusive of nearly every modern-day jazz great, his most recent creative undertakings included memorial recordings with his own trio: "Music in the Key of Clark" (Sonny Clark) - High Note; "Impressions of Mary Lou" (Mary Lou Williams) - High Note; "Nightwind" (Erroll Garner) - High Note; "John Hicks Trio and Strings with Larry Willis and Elise Wood" - Mapleshade; "So In Love" with Richard Davis - King Records; "Live in Taiwan" and "Beautiful Friendship" with flutist Elise Wood - Hiwood. Of particular note as a leader is his recording "Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook", which features some of Hicks' most lyrical work. The years of the past decade have seen an increasing focus of solo work, trio work and his Quintet and Sextet.

Teaming up with a diverse array of musicians had become a Hicks trademark. It also infused his playing with a unique characteristic: a relaxed confidence so total that at times it belies the passion he brings to a song. In all these realms, he has brought together outstanding musicians all whom share with him excellence in the creation and delivery of the universal language. Among those with whom he worked are Curtis Lundy, David Murray, Elise Wood, David Newman, Hannibal Peterson, Cecil Brooks III, Walter Booker, Billy Bang, Sonny Fortune, Frank Wess, Louis Hayes, Buster Williams, George Mraz, Idris Muhammad, Mickey Bass, Lester Bowie, and a host of luminaries in the jazz genre.

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Charles Tolliver Music Inc.: Live at the Captain's Cabin

Read "Live at the Captain's Cabin" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
November 29, 2024

Charles Tolliver's Live at the Captain's Cabin is a previously unheard two-CD set captured at an intimate venue in Edmonton, Alberta, on June 24, 1973, produced for release on Reel to Real Recordings by tenor saxophonist and jazz entrepreneur Cory Weeds. The synergy and spontaneity heard in this session can only come from a group accustomed to the rigours of the road. With no prior intention to record, trumpeter Tolliver and his quartet, comprised of pianist John Hicks, bassist Clint ...

Album Review

Pharoah Sanders Quartet: Live At Fabrik

Read "Live At Fabrik" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
March 10, 2023

One reason Pharoah Sanders was such a special artist was the prismatic nature of his music. When Sanders lit on to a new avenue of investigation, he did not in the process reject what he had been doing up until that moment. Instead, he wove the new perspective into the existing structure, enriching rather than replacing it. The result was a rainbow in which the joins between what might have been, in lesser hands, incompatible instead became inaudible, and the ...

355

Multiple Reviews

John Hicks: Live at the Jazz Corner of the World, Jammin' Uptown & Mind Wine: The Music of John Hicks

by Graham L. Flanagan
May 9, 2009

Mickey Bass New York Powerhouse EnsembleLive at the Jazz Corner of the WorldEarly Bird2009 Alvin QueenJammin' UptownNilva-Just a Memory2008 John Hicks Legacy BandMind Wine: The Music of John HicksSavant2008 When pianist John Hicks passed away back in May of 2006, the jazz community lost one of ...

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Album Review

The John Hicks Legacy Band: Mind Wine - The Music Of John Hicks

Read "Mind Wine - The Music Of John Hicks" reviewed by Douglas Payne

by Douglas Payne
January 25, 2009

John Hicks (1941-2006) gave much to jazz over several decades but never really received the appreciation he so richly deserved. As a pianist, he proved himself in the Art Blakey and Betty Carter universities. He was also the prototypical musician's musician, a first-call pianist for many jazz greats and a magnificent accompanist to the art's best saxists, including Pharoah Sanders, Arthur Blythe, Chico Freeman, Archie Shepp, and David Murray.

He was often accused of hovering in McCoy Tyner's ...

435

Album Review

The John Hicks Legacy Band: Mind Wine: The Music of John Hicks

Read "Mind Wine: The Music of John Hicks" reviewed by John Barron

by John Barron
September 29, 2008

John Hicks (1941-2006) was a musician's musician; a player who was held in high regard by his peers as a versatile performer who could elevate any ensemble. With Mind Wine: The Music of John Hicks, Hicks' wife, flautist Elise Wood-Hicks and pianist Larry Willis co-lead a group of the late pianist's long-time associates for a celebration of one of the most distinguished jazz personalities of the last forty years.

With the exception of Duke Ellington's “Single Petal of a Rose," ...

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Album Review

John Hicks/Buster Williams/Louis Hayes: On The Wings Of An Eagle

Read "On The Wings Of An Eagle" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
April 26, 2007

The passing of pianist John Hicks in 2006 marks the loss of one of the quintessential New York pianists. And this, perhaps his last recording, is a stunning example of a fully developed bebop piano trio in flight.

Hicks gained the spotlight working with Art Blakey, Betty Carter and Woody Herman in the 1960s and '70s. He then migrated to avant-garde saxophonists Pharoah Sanders and David Murray before returning to the hard bop sounds of his Keystone Trio ...

259

Album Review

John Hicks: Sweet Love Of Mine

Read "Sweet Love Of Mine" reviewed by Nic Jones

by Nic Jones
January 11, 2007

This polite set effectively closes the recording chapter of the late pianist John Hicks' life--and on an equally fundamental level, it might leave listeners ruing the fact that a lot of the music is simply made somewhat anonymous by the presence of too many musicians.

The opening “One Peaceful Moment" is given a wistfully melancholic reading, which in itself makes a sadly belated case for Hicks the composer, and when tenor player Javon Jackson joins Hicks for a duo reading ...

Radio

STLJN Audio Archive: John Hicks - Hells Bells

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 30, 2012

For today's Audio Archive post, we feature Hells Bells, the very first session recorded as a bandleader by the late pianist and former St. Louisan John Hicks. Hells Bells—spelled without the apostrophe on the album cover (pictured), but sometimes with it in other references—was recorded in 1975 for trumpeter Charles Tolliver's Strata-East label, though it wasn't issued until 1978. There was a CD reissue of the album in 2000 by the Charly label, which now is out of print. As ...
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Technology

Notes from the Net: Miles' Box Set of Box Sets; John Hicks Honored in NYC; Plus News, Reviews, Interviews and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
August 25, 2010

Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest: The big Miles Davis news this time out is the release on September 14 of The Genius of Miles Davis , a new collection bringing together eight deluxe multi-CD box sets, including 43 CDs of music, which were originally released ...
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Recording

John Hicks and Frank Morgan - Twogether (High Note)

Source: Master of a Small House
April 27, 2010

The passing of pianist John Hicks and altoist Frank Morgan within a year of each other was a sad blow to the High Note roster and the jazz community writ large. Both men had enjoyed a late career renaissance via the label and Morgan, in particular, experienced an artistic renewal through a series of critically-acclaimed recordings capped by a three-volume document of a stand at The Jazz Standard. This set is something of a posthumous swan song for each player, ...
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191

Performance / Tour

Lafayette Harris with Elise Wood: a Musical Tribute to John Hicks April 17 and 18 at Zinc Bar

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
April 17, 2007

Layayette Harris will be playing with Elise Wood, who is doing a Musical Tribute to JOHN HICKS.

April 17 and 18 sets at 9pm, 11pm and 12:30 At the ZINC BAR 90 W Houston St. (west of LaGuardia in Greenwich Village NYC) http://www.zincbar.com/

Elise Wood: flute and alto flute Bill Saxton: tenor sax Lafayette Harris: piano Essiet Essiet: bass Victor Jones: drums Antione Drye ...
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137

Video / DVD

John Hicks Tribute - Bird Lives - Bret Primack's Video Blog

Source: All About Jazz
April 12, 2007

To commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of John Hicks (December 21, 1941 - May 10, 2006), Bret Primack has produced a video tribute to the remarkable pianist on his video blog, Bird Lives.

The video, which includes rare performance video of John Hicks with Art Blakey, documentary footage from one of John's last sessions (Streams of Expression), and clips from the Joe Lovano Nonet live in Paris, is also available on YouTube.

In ...
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215

Recording

HighNote Records Announces August 29th Release Of Final Studio Recording By Pianist John Hicks

Source: All About Jazz
May 23, 2006

NEW YORK - HighNote Records announces the August 29th release of the last studio recording by pianist John Hicks who died suddenly on May 10th in Manhattan of internal bleeding at age 64. Hicks recorded the still-untitled CD April 5th at Van Gelder Studios in New Jersey accompanied by tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, the pianist's wife Elise Wood on flute, bassist Curtis Lundy, drummer Victor Jones and percussionist Ray Mantilla. The mood of the session--which showcases Hicks in solo, duet ...
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Obituary

John Hicks: Prolific Pianist

Source: All About Jazz
May 16, 2006

Born: December 21, 1942 in Atlanta, GA Died: May 10, 2006 in New York, NY

By Todd S. Jenkins

John Hicks, one of the most versatile and prolific jazz pianists of the past four decades, died of internal bleeding in New York City on May 10, 2006. He was sixty-four years of age.

Born in Atlanta on December 21, 1942, Hicks was raised in Los Angeles where he absorbed Fats Waller, bebop and church music in the 1950s, ...
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220

Music Industry

John Hicks Funeral Service, Friday May 19, 2006

Source: All About Jazz
May 12, 2006

Viewing will be held: Thursday, May 18, 2006 4 - 9pm Saint Mark's United Methodist Church 55 Edgecombe Avenue (between 137th & 138th Sts) New York, NY Homegoing service for Mr. Hicks will be held on: Friday May 19, 2006 2:00 pm Saint Mark's United Methodist Church 55 Edgecombe Avenue (between 137th & 138th Sts) New ...
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149

Obituary

Pianist John Hicks Dies

Source: All About Jazz
May 12, 2006

John Hicks, a bop-based pianist who was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, the Woody Herman Big Band and the Betty Carter Trio during the 1960s, in addition to performing with Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, Etta Jones and innumerable others, died yesterday morning after being hospitalized with internal bleeding on May 9. He was 65.

Born December 21, 1941 in Atlanta, GA, Hicks studied music at Missouri's Lincoln University, the Berklee College of Music and, surprisingly, on the road ...
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187

Performance / Tour

Erica Lindsay with Oliver Lake/John Hicks Big Band

Source: All About Jazz
September 23, 2005

'ASR Records artist, Erica Lindsay will be performing with Oliver Lake's Big Band this week at the Jazz Gallery in NYC. Ms. Lindsay, is a world-class tenor saxophonist, composer and recording artist who first debuted as a leader on the NYC jazz scene in the late 1980s. She can also be heard on the latest Oliver Lake Big Band recording, Cloth (Passin' Thru Records). Her quintet was first heard on her debut release for Candid Records (CCD 79040), Erica Lindsay ...
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