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| John Hicks - Final Recording Pianist John Hicks died suddenly on May 10th in Manhattan of internal bleeding at age 64. HighNote Records announces the August 29th release of his last studio recording. 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 and quartet settings--ranges from reflective ballads to songs flavored with a Latin tinge. The repertoire includes, among other selections, Benny Golson's modern jazz classic "I Remember Clifford, " the standard "Things We Did Last Summer" by Sammy Cahn and "Sweet Love Of Mine" by trumpeter Woody Shaw who, ironically, died on May 10th in 1989. "Who knew this was to be John Hicks' last recording?" mused HighNote's Joe Fields from the label's New York City offices. "We had just inked John to a new exclusive contract and he was his usual affable self when he was joined at Rudy's just five weeks before he would pass away by a familiar group of musicians who were all dear friends and who had shared countless appearances on the bandstand together, " Fields continued. "John will be terribly missed professionally but most of all personally here at HighNote." Hicks had a decade-long association with HighNote, the highlight of which is clearly his series of five critically acclaimed piano trio tributes -- recorded between 1998 and 2003 with bassist Dwayne Dolphin and drummer Cecil Brooks III -- to Billy Strayhorn, Errol Garner, Mary Lou Williams, Sonny Clark and Earl "Fatha" Hines, all Pittsburgh-based or - born jazz pianists and composers. Hicks' HighNote discography also includes appearances as a sideman on 11 recordings dating back to guitarist Jimmy Ponder's 1997 CD James Street; two other dates with Ponder; a session with saxophonist James Spaulding; two with guitarist Larry Coryell and five with saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman. Hicks also made four appearances as a sideman on a pair of recordings each released by saxophonist Arthur Blythe and drummer Cecil Brooks III on HighNote's sister label Savant Records. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |