Benefit & Tribute for John Hicks' Family

[Lois Gilbert]

Sweet Rhythm to Host a Benefit Tribute Celebrating the Life and Music of John Hicks

With Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Junior Mance, Louis Hayes, Buster Williams and others

Friday and Saturday June 2, 3

When pianist John Hicks died on May 10, at the age of 64, the jazz world lost much more than a great player. As Stanley Crouch noted, “Hicks was not well-known to the general public because he was not a star. Hardly any jazz musicians are. But he was immeasurably important. Hicks symbolized the discipline, grace, fire and compassion of the art. This was true not only of his work, but of his very being; whenever Hicks entered a room, the deepest meanings of jazz entered with him.”

Sweet Rhythm will celebrate John Hicks life and art with two nights of music to benefit the Hicks family. Jazz’s finest pianists including Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller and Junior Mance will perform on Friday, and Saturday, June 2 and 3. They will be joined by bassist Buster Williams and drummer Louis Hayes; additional musicians are expected to join this stellar line-up.

Cedar Walton is one of the most respected and revered musicians in the world. The pianist has worked with the most sought-after musicians in the history of jazz, including the late Art Farmer, Art Blakey (1961-64), Lou Donaldson, Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson ,John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and many others. Walton moved to the New York in 1955, and has since appeared on dozens of recordings as a sideman and a leader. His many recent CD releases include “Manhattan After Hours,” released in 2003.

Kenny Barron's unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms is what inspired "The Los Angeles Times" to name him "one of the top jazz pianists in the world" and "Jazz Weekly" to call him "The most lyrical piano player of our time." The influential pianist was born on August 13, 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Mulgrew Miller’s earliest piano experience was in the Baptist church and in R&B groups in his hometown. After studying piano more extensively at Memphis State University in the 1970s Miller became a member of the Ellington Orchestra. He then worked with Betty Carter in 1980, and went on to perform with jazz greats such as trumpeter Woody Shaw's Quintet (1981-83), and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1983-86). In addition to being a leader of his own bands, Mulgrew Miller has performed and recorded with the jazz’s cream of the crop, including Johnny Griffin, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Nat Adderley, Hamiet Bluiett, Donald Byrd, Jack DeJohnette, Donald Harrison, Freddie Hubbard, and many others. Miller has recorded more than ten albums as a leader

Pianist Junior Mance is a case of musical double identity. He’s part of the bebop generation. But Mance is also a bluesman of the old school. Like his colleagues Count Basie and Cannonball Adderley, he employs infectious riffs and a contagious “vocal” approach to jazz expression. Coming of age in the ’40s, Junior Mance, like most of his peers, embraced bebop, the boppers played plenty of blues but often at such high speed and which such advanced harmonies, you almost had to be a musician to hear them. In the late ‘50s, Junior Mance became part of a burgeoning movement that aimed to scale back the technique-driven bebop of the day. They created a new sound in music that mixed bebop with blues and gospel elements. Years later it would be dubbed, “soul-jazz.” In 1956 and’57, Mance became the pianist in one of the most influential “soul-jazz” outfits, alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley’s Quintet. He then went on to lead his own trios. But whatever the format, you could always recognize Mance’s singing approach to the piano.

Best known for his solid, dark tone and highly refined technique on the acoustic bass, the jazz-rock generation knew him as the anchor of Herbie Hancock's exploratory Mwandishi Sextet. Buster Williams has played with a long line of greats, starting with Jimmy Heath and Sonny Stitt in the early Sixties. His current release, Griot Liberte' (High Note) was recorded at the famed Van Gelder Studio under the watchful eyes and ears of the master, Rudy Van Gelder himself, who defined the way jazz sounded for decades has now redefined the sound of jazz for the next generation.

For more than forty years, drummer Louis Hayes has been a catalyst for energetic, unrelenting swing in his self led bands, as well as in those whose respective leaders reads like an encyclopedia of straight ahead post-bop modern jazz. Hayes himself an authentic architect of post-bop swing, began his professional activities at the tender age of 18. He started with tenor saxophonist, flautist and oboist Yusef Lateef. Hayes went on to rhythmically propel groups led by pianist Horace Silver, legendary saxophonist Cannonball

Everyone who observed the performances of the jazz pianist John Hicks… remarked on his keyboard dash and rhythmic drive… the singer Betty Carter, for whom Hicks worked for several years, was unequivocal in her assessment. "Nobody sounds like John Hicks," she stated.

Peter Vacher, The London Guardian

Friday / Saturday, JUNE 2 / 3, 2006

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN HICKS w/ CEDAR WALTON, KENNY BARRON, MULGREW MILLER, JUNIOR MANCE, LOUIS HAYES, BUSTER WILLIAMS & others

$25 Music Charge* & $10 Minimum

*A benefit for the Hicks Family

Sets at 8, 10 and midnight

sweet rhythm

88 seventh avenue south

new york, ny 10014

212.255.3626 fax 212.255.3661

www.sweetrhythmny.com

[bumzella]

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Sweet Rhythm to Host a Benefit Tribute Celebrating the Life and Music of John Hicks

With Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Junior Mance, Louis Hayes, Buster Williams and others

Friday and Saturday June 2, 3

When pianist John Hicks died on May 10, at the age of 64, the jazz world lost much more than a great player. As Stanley Crouch noted, “Hicks was not well-known to the general public because he was not a star. Hardly any jazz musicians are. But he was immeasurably important. Hicks symbolized the discipline, grace, fire and compassion of the art. This was true not only of his work, but of his very being; whenever Hicks entered a room, the deepest meanings of jazz entered with him.”

Will be there!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like the "Show of Shows". Such phenomenal artist all at the same time!! Got my plane tickets from Seattle!!

Sweet Rhythm will celebrate John Hicks life and art with two nights of music to benefit the Hicks family. Jazz’s finest pianists including Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller and Junior Mance will perform on Friday, and Saturday, June 2 and 3. They will be joined by bassist Buster Williams and drummer Louis Hayes; additional musicians are expected to join this stellar line-up.

Cedar Walton is one of the most respected and revered musicians in the world. The pianist has worked with the most sought-after musicians in the history of jazz, including the late Art Farmer, Art Blakey (1961-64), Lou Donaldson, Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson ,John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and many others. Walton moved to the New York in 1955, and has since appeared on dozens of recordings as a sideman and a leader. His many recent CD releases include “Manhattan After Hours,” released in 2003.

Kenny Barron's unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms is what inspired "The Los Angeles Times" to name him "one of the top jazz pianists in the world" and "Jazz Weekly" to call him "The most lyrical piano player of our time." The influential pianist was born on August 13, 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Mulgrew Miller’s earliest piano experience was in the Baptist church and in R&B groups in his hometown. After studying piano more extensively at Memphis State University in the 1970s Miller became a member of the Ellington Orchestra. He then worked with Betty Carter in 1980, and went on to perform with jazz greats such as trumpeter Woody Shaw's Quintet (1981-83), and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1983-86). In addition to being a leader of his own bands, Mulgrew Miller has performed and recorded with the jazz’s cream of the crop, including Johnny Griffin, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Nat Adderley, Hamiet Bluiett, Donald Byrd, Jack DeJohnette, Donald Harrison, Freddie Hubbard, and many others. Miller has recorded more than ten albums as a leader

Pianist Junior Mance is a case of musical double identity. He’s part of the bebop generation. But Mance is also a bluesman of the old school. Like his colleagues Count Basie and Cannonball Adderley, he employs infectious riffs and a contagious “vocal” approach to jazz expression. Coming of age in the ’40s, Junior Mance, like most of his peers, embraced bebop, the boppers played plenty of blues but often at such high speed and which such advanced harmonies, you almost had to be a musician to hear them. In the late ‘50s, Junior Mance became part of a burgeoning movement that aimed to scale back the technique-driven bebop of the day. They created a new sound in music that mixed bebop with blues and gospel elements. Years later it would be dubbed, “soul-jazz.” In 1956 and’57, Mance became the pianist in one of the most influential “soul-jazz” outfits, alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley’s Quintet. He then went on to lead his own trios. But whatever the format, you could always recognize Mance’s singing approach to the piano.

Best known for his solid, dark tone and highly refined technique on the acoustic bass, the jazz-rock generation knew him as the anchor of Herbie Hancock's exploratory Mwandishi Sextet. Buster Williams has played with a long line of greats, starting with Jimmy Heath and Sonny Stitt in the early Sixties. His current release, Griot Liberte' (High Note) was recorded at the famed Van Gelder Studio under the watchful eyes and ears of the master, Rudy Van Gelder himself, who defined the way jazz sounded for decades has now redefined the sound of jazz for the next generation.

For more than forty years, drummer Louis Hayes has been a catalyst for energetic, unrelenting swing in his self led bands, as well as in those whose respective leaders reads like an encyclopedia of straight ahead post-bop modern jazz. Hayes himself an authentic architect of post-bop swing, began his professional activities at the tender age of 18. He started with tenor saxophonist, flautist and oboist Yusef Lateef. Hayes went on to rhythmically propel groups led by pianist Horace Silver, legendary saxophonist Cannonball

Everyone who observed the performances of the jazz pianist John Hicks… remarked on his keyboard dash and rhythmic drive… the singer Betty Carter, for whom Hicks worked for several years, was unequivocal in her assessment. "Nobody sounds like John Hicks," she stated.

Peter Vacher, The London Guardian

Friday / Saturday, JUNE 2 / 3, 2006

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN HICKS w/ CEDAR WALTON, KENNY BARRON, MULGREW MILLER, JUNIOR MANCE, LOUIS HAYES, BUSTER WILLIAMS & others

$25 Music Charge* & $10 Minimum

*A benefit for the Hicks Family

Sets at 8, 10 and midnight

sweet rhythm

88 seventh avenue south

new york, ny 10014

212.255.3626 fax 212.255.3661

www.sweetrhythmny.com

Will be there!! What a line up. This may not be duplicated so I am getting my airline tickets. Can't get this "show of shows" in Seattle. Although they did a wonderful tribute to Hicks during the time of his death on our local jazz station and at Jazz Alley, this set at Sweet Rhythm is worth the trip!!

[stevebop]

I'll be there also. Hope to see you all there.
I'll be driving down from Boston with my friend Charlie who told me the following story which I posted on the WGBH Jazz Blog.
Sweet Rhythm was John Hicks' "hang."

My friend Charlie was in New York last week visiting with family and found some time to stop by Sweet Rhythm on Seventh Avenue South to hear some music. It used to be Sweet Basil and is still one of the city’s best jazz clubs.
Charlie was sitting at the bar, nursing his cognac when he noticed, sitting on the bar next to him, another glass of cognac on a paper napkin. Charlie thought it’s owner had gone to the rest room and would be back momentarily. The bartender, an old friend of Charlie’s, came over to chat, poured himself a snifter of cognac and clinked the glass sitting on the bar. Charlie looked at him a bit puzzled and wondered what was going on. The bartender explained to him that the glass was poured and left on the bar as a tribute to the late pianist John Hicks who had passed away on Wednesday, May 10th.
Charlie lifted his snifter and toasted John’s glass also. A beautiful New York moment of rememberence for a dear departed friend.

There will be a celebration of John Hicks life and music at the “jazz church,” St. Peter’s at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street in New York City on Sunday June 4th at 7:30pm.
We can all lift a glass then , literally or figuratively, to this great musician.

Rest In Peace, John!

Steve Schwartz
Jazz from Studio Four
Friday, 8p-midnight
WGBH, 89.7fm, Boston
www.wgbh.org
www/wgbhblogs.org/jazz