John Hicks: Biography

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• George Cables
• Kenny Barron
• Benny Green
• James Williams
• Joe Bonner
• Donald Brown
• Kenny Drew

• McCoy Tyner

• Rachel Z
• John Lurie

• Jeri Brown

• Billie Holiday
• Billy Strayhorn
• Mal Waldron
• John Coltrane
• Thelonious Monk
• Arthur Herzog, Jr.
• Johnny Mercer

• New York Unit
• John Hicks & Elise Wood

• David Murray
• Idris Muhammad
• Harvey Goldberg
• Arthur Blythe
• Chico Freeman
• Marvin "Smitty" Smith
• Walter Booker

Born:

Dec 12, 1941 in Atlanta, GA

Died:

May 10, 2006 in New York, NY

Genres:

Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

A versatile pianist who is able to retain his own personality whether playing hard bop, free, or anything in between, John Hicks has recorded many records throughout his career, both as a leader and as a sideman. After studying music at Lincoln University in Missouri, Hicks attended Berklee and started working as a freelance musician. He moved to New York in 1963, and was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1964-1966), and the groups of Betty Carter (1966-1968) and Woody Herman (1968-1970). He later worked again with Blakey (1973) and Carter (1975-1980), in addition to recording with Oliver Lake, Lester Bowie, Charles Tolliver, and Chico Freeman (1978-1979). From the early '80s on, Hicks has led his own trio and worked regularly with David Murray, Arthur Blythe, Pharoah Sanders, and others. As a leader, John Hicks has recorded for Strata East, Theresa, Limetree, DIW, Timeless, Red Baron, Concord, Evidence, Novus, Reservoir, Mapleshade, and Landmark, among others.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide