Dimming the lights in all the Jazz Clubs on June 4 at 9pm local time

Lois Gilbert · May-30th-2006, 06:04 PM

Please help me spread the word:

Hello all

I am writing to each of you to see if you can help me with an idea that's been brewing for a few weeks now. Sunday, June 4 is the tribute to John Hicks at St. Peter's Church beginning at 7:30pm. As you all know, John was an is an intergral part of our ever shrinking jazz community. My dream is to see the lights dimmed on Sunday night with a moment of silence for John and healing thoughts being sent to Hilton Ruiz. I thought around 9:00 would be the time.

I need your help in making this a reality. Perhaps you can send emails to people you know at clubs and then help me spread the word.

We need to start somewhere. They dim the lights on Broadway when a Bdwy star passes, Why can't we do this in the jazz community?

It is said that if people are chosen to receive an idea, and they don't use it, it goes back into the universe or perhaps passed on to someone else. Please help me make this idea flourish in our jazz universe.

Peace and blessings
Lois

Lois Gilbert · May-30th-2006, 09:47 PM

Actually we have some updates:

Cornelia Street
Kitano (doing Saturday night)

So many people are helping and forwarding this message throughout the country.

Please pass it on.

Ron Thorne · May-31st-2006, 03:29 AM

Lois, I think that this is a very hip idea.

Obviously, I'm not in a position to influence much in terms of jazz venues on a National scale, but will send a message to local musicians who may want to pay homage.

It might be useful to establish a "standard" for the length of time for dimming the lights. My first thought was :10secs., but that was just instinctive. What is the established standard on Broadway?

I don't know about other cities, but "live" music in Anchorage ends on Saturday night, so June 3rd might be a better day, overall.

Certain "standards" (Day/time/length) need to be established ASAP so that they can be shared with others worldwide.

Lois Gilbert · May-31st-2006, 05:53 AM

I don;t want to dictate a length of time. Saturday is also still wonderful. Several clubs are closed on Sundays. This is just an idea to bring us all together for now and the future. Make the jazz community a little smaller.

Dizzy's is participating and I'll have more venues to announce later today.

It's a blessing!

fasstrack · May-31st-2006, 06:52 AM

It's a nice thought, Lois. For me, with an ear to the future, I'd just as soon turn someone on (especially a young person, and double-especially a young player) to his playing via recordings and I believe there's a video of the Jazz Messengers. I have no info on the latter, just was told about it.

It's all good, though, and for sure what you suggest is a welcome sign of respect.

(At the risk of editorializing, it would be nice if certain clubs would 'keep the lights on' by treating musicians and customers alike with the respect they deserve while they're alive. That doesn't happen often enough.)

Gary Sisco · May-31st-2006, 08:43 AM

Can't vouch for others but I'll dim the lights at Sisco's Bar & Grill Sunday night.

Lois Gilbert · May-31st-2006, 02:01 PM

There is now a video streaming courtesy of Joe Lovano on http://johnhicksmusic.com

Peterdubya · May-31st-2006, 03:57 PM

We will do somehing prior to the 8:00 show on Sunday night at Yoshi's. A moment of silence.

Lois Gilbert · May-31st-2006, 07:05 PM

Thank you Peter and thank you Yoshi's

In addition

Jazz Standard
Dizzy's
The Village Vanguard
Cornelia St. Café
Birdland
Jazz at Pearl's (San Francisco)

Need more help. There will be a mention in the Daily News tomorrow. Please feel free to spread the word on other bulletin boards and chat rooms.

Lois Gilbert · May-31st-2006, 11:29 PM

The Iridium has also agreed to join in...

Ron Thorne · June-1st-2006, 12:07 AM

Good work, Lois!

Lilsis · June-1st-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Thank you Peter and thank you Yoshi's

In addition

Jazz Standard
Dizzy's
The Village Vanguard
Cornelia St. Café
Birdland
Jazz at Pearl's (San Francisco)

Need more help. There will be a mention in the Daily News tomorrow. Please feel free to spread the word on other bulletin boards and chat rooms.

Sent this to AAJ and WCLK-FM Atlanta. A wonderful idea for two awesome people.
Thanks Lois.

Lois Gilbert · June-1st-2006, 01:17 PM

Dimming the lights for a jazz beacon

Stanley Crouch

Whether or not anyone outside of this town likes it, New York is the cultural capital of America. Writers, painters, actors, musicians, dancers and everybody else in the arts usually comes this way. So it is fitting that here, Lois Gilbert, managing director and owner of jazzcorner.com, perhaps the busiest jazz Web site, is set to begin what may become a new tradition.

This Sunday night at 9, in recognition of the recent death of pianist John Hicks, the lights will be dimmed in all of New York's major jazz rooms. For a minute, the lights will go down in the Cornelia Street Cafe, the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note, the Jazz Standard, Birdland, Iridium, Smoke, and rooms outside of New York such as Cecil's in New Jersey, Blues Alley in Washington, and Yoshi's in San Francisco. On Friday and Saturday nights, there will be a benefit for the John Hicks family at Sweet Rhythm, where many of New York's finest pianists - Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller and Junior Mance - will be playing the music of John Hicks. As they used to say, "You can't beat that with a stick."

Why is all of this attention being brought to a musician whom most of you never heard play or never even knew existed? As running backs often observe, the touchdowns for which they are celebrated were made possible by the offensive line. That line protects the back and opens the holes in the defensive line so that they can make their best moves.

Though he was a superb soloist and a fine jazz composer, John Hicks was a great lineman. At the keyboard he was masterful at heating up the rhythm section, making sense of what the featured musician was playing, as well as following, guiding, or correcting either an instrumentalist or a singer. If someone wanted to play pretty, he knew just which notes and chords to pick. If fire was what they wanted, Hicks could bring more than enough logs to build quite a distinctive fire. When swing was the objective, he could put such a jubilant brand on the beat that the walls seemed to shiver with satisfaction and excitement.

In a historical moment as narcissistic as ours, it may be hard to appreciate someone who was loved for his ability to support others. In our empty celebrity culture it is now almost unthinkable that someone would be admired for expressing the essence of his personality through his empathy for fellow performers.

That is the deepest human meaning of jazz: it is about the individual rising from a collective. When you hear a jazz band take off, that is what you are hearing: empathy as self-expression.

As recognizable as his style was, as unique a man as he was, empathy was central to the virtuosity of John Hicks. He gave far more than most others and made it much easier to experience a great performing art as it made its way through the air.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/...p-356653c.html

Valerie · June-1st-2006, 02:34 PM

so glad that mr. crouch is giving this publicity but wish he had mentioned hilton ruiz as well!!

lois, i've sent the word out here in l.a. to catalina's, the jazz bakery, steamer's, charlie-o's, and i'll contact others asap.

thanks, lois. your heart is always in the right place!

xoxo

valerie

Ron Thorne · June-1st-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

so glad that mr. crouch is giving this publicity but wish he had mentioned hilton ruiz as well!!

Those are my sentiments too, Valerie.

A mention of Hilton Ruiz might have brought much-needed assistance to this fine musician who needs our help desperately.

Lilsis · June-1st-2006, 11:03 PM

I am sure that Mr. Crouch did not deliberately omit Hilton's situation. This is a wonderful idea, and I am sure that if any of us email Stanley, he will respond and enter a recapitulation and addition of Hilton Ruiz and the need for healing thoughts. Our community (jazzlovers) is too small for bickering.
Keep Hope Alive!!

Ron Thorne · June-1st-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilsis

I am sure that Mr. Crouch did not deliberately omit Hilton's situation. This is a wonderful idea, and I am sure that if any of us email Stanley, he will respond and enter a recapitulation and addition of Hilton Ruiz and the need for healing thoughts. Our community (jazzlovers) is too small for bickering.
Keep Hope Alive!!

I don't think anyone's suggested that Stanley's omission was deliberate. That doesn't alter the fact that it would have been nice to have Hilton mentioned within the context of Lois' concept, however.

I don't think that speaking our minds from our heart should be considered "bickering", but that's just my take. Your mileage may vary.

With hope for healing . . .

Lilsis · June-2nd-2006, 06:20 AM

"With hope for healing . . ."

Ditto.......

Uli · June-2nd-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilsis

I am sure that Mr. Crouch did not deliberately omit Hilton's situation. This is a wonderful idea, and I am sure that if any of us email Stanley, he will respond and enter a recapitulation and addition of Hilton Ruiz and the need for healing thoughts.

I think that's a great idea.

Up for Lois.

RIP Mr. Hicks. Best wishes to Mr Ruiz.

Lois Gilbert · June-2nd-2006, 03:59 PM

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=10037

Valerie · June-2nd-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=10037

extremely cool!! brought tears to my eyes! to see our lois get props from AAJ is extremely heart-warming. lois, you should feel very good about all of it!

big hugs to our warrior and fearless leader, who possesses a huge heart!!

xoxo

valerie

Ron Thorne · June-2nd-2006, 05:55 PM

You go, Lois!

Very cool of AAJ to post that notice.

Let the healing begin.

RainyDay · June-2nd-2006, 06:09 PM

Hats off to Mike at AAJ!!

Valerie · June-2nd-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyDay

Hats off to Mike at AAJ!!

right you are, RD! sorry i didn't mention that! when the jazz community comes together, it's the coolest!

Lois Gilbert · June-2nd-2006, 10:16 PM

I know John Hicks had enough love for everyone - and as I told Michael Ricci today, it is so wonderful that we are all coming together, and I believe John has amazing healing powers.

The support from the jazz community has been overwhelming. No one said No...

As John said through his brother at his funeral:

"It is more important to understand than be understood."

Lois Gilbert · June-3rd-2006, 07:01 PM

The Dakota in Minnepolis where Pat Martino is playing will also have a moment of acknowledgement.

Lois Gilbert · June-4th-2006, 03:21 PM

Dear Lois,
I just found out about the clubs dimming of the lights in memory of John Hicks. I immediately called up (one of Poland's leading saxophonists) Piotr Baron, who has performed and recorded with John Hicks. Piotr is playing with his group at the Wroclaw jazz club Rura tonight and the club will follow your plea with a tribute to John Hicks at 9.00 pm, which is 40 minutes from now, and 6 hours ahead of New York time.
We'll remember John Hicks.
Pawel Brodowski
Editor of Jazz Forum magazine

Valerie · June-4th-2006, 04:22 PM

YES!!! the power of the jazz community throughout the world! i hope people remember hilton in their prayers as well!

Ron Thorne · June-4th-2006, 04:37 PM

Hats off to Pawel Brodowski and the Wroclaw jazz club Rura!

All good thoughts to Hilton Ruiz. Any updates on his condition?

Lois Gilbert · June-5th-2006, 01:12 PM

Surprise visit to Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola:

In complete harmony with the worldwide jazz requiem for the late jazz pianist John Hicks on Sunday, June 4th, from 9-10 pm, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola lowered its lights, and Wycliffe Gordon presided over a moment of silence for John Hicks, after which he launched into "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" with the powerfully plaintive clarinet of Victor Goines, second line propusions from drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Reginald Veal, and pianist Gary Gillespie. "A Closer Walk With Thee" very effortlessly segued into "Bourbon Street Parade," which in turn gave way to a really sensual blues rendition of Sweets Edison's "Centerpiece" by old JALC friends Cassandra Wilson and Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson and the whole crew. A very fitting and moving evening of special swinging song.