John Josephus Hicks Jr. (December 21, 1941 – May 10, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was leader of more than 30 recordings and played as a sideman on more than 300."Artist of the Month: John Hicks" . wicn.org. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
After early experiences backing blues musicians, Hicks moved to New York in 1963. He was part of Art Blakey's band for two years, accompanied vocalist Betty Carter from 1965 to 1967, before joining Woody Herman's big band, where he stayed until 1970. Following these associations, Hicks expanded into freer bands, including those of trumpeters Charles Tolliver and Lester Bowie. He rejoined Carter in 1975; the five-year stay brought him more attention and helped to launch his recording career as a leader. He continued to play and record extensively in the United States and internationally. Under his own leadership, his recordings were mostly bebop-influenced, while those for other leaders continued to be in a diversity of styles, including multi-year associations with saxophonists Arthur Blythe, David Murray, David "Fathead" Newman, and Pharoah Sanders.
Early life Hicks was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 21, 1941, the eldest of five children. As a child, he moved with his family around the United States, as his father, Rev. John Hicks Sr, took up jobs with the Methodist church.Vacher, Peter (May 12, 2006), "John Hicks". The Guardian. Retrieved November 30, 2022. His family was middle-class: "I was brought up as a decent human being, where you had aspirations and there were expectations", he commented. His mother, Pollie, was his first piano teacher,Ankeny, Jason "Artist Biography". AllMusic.com Retrieved November 7, 2016. after he began playing aged six or seven in Los Angeles.Yanow, Scott; Kernfeld, Barry "Hicks, John". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved November 20, 2016. He took organ lessons, sang in choirs and tried the violin and trombone. Around the age of 11, once he could read music, Hicks started playing the piano in church.Davis, Barry (January 26, 2006), "In the Mood for Monk". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
His development accelerated once his family moved to St. Louis, when Hicks was 14 and he settled on the piano. There, he attended Sumner High School and played in schoolmate Lester Bowie's band, the Continentals,Lewis, George E. (2008), A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music. University of Chicago Press, p. 136. which performed in a variety of musical styles. Hicks cited influences "from Fats Waller to Thelonious Monk to Methodist church hymns", as well as local pianists. He was initially interested in the blues-based compositions of Horace Silver and popular songs such as "I Got Rhythm" and "There Will Never Be Another You", for their easily recognised harmonies.
Hicks worked summer gigs in the southern United States with blues musicians Little Milton and Albert King. His stint with Little Milton provided his first professional work, in 1958; Hicks stated that his playing in a variety of keys improved because the venue's piano was so out of tune that he had to transpose each piece that they played. He studied music in 1958 at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he shared a room with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson. He also studied for a short time at the Berklee School of Music in Boston before moving to New York in 1963.
Later life and career
1963–80 In New York, Hicks first accompanied singer Della Reese.Ratliff, Ben (May 13., 2006), "John Hicks, 64, Jazz Pianist Active on New York Scene, Is Dead". The New York Times. He then played with Joe Farrell and toured with trombonist Al Grey and tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell. In 1963 he was also part of saxophonist Pharoah Sanders' first band,"NEA Jazz Masters". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved July 8, 2017. and appeared on CBC Television backing vocalist Jimmy Witherspoon.Carner, Gary (2013), Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography. Scarecrow Press. Chapter 3. After periods with Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson, Hicks joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1964. His recording debut was with Blakey in November that year on the album 'S Make It.Musto, Russ "Hicks, John". Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved November 20, 2016. (Subscription required.)Schwartz, Steve; Fitzgerald, Michael "Chronology of Art Blakey (and the Jazz Messengers)". jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved November 20, 2016. Early in 1965, Hicks toured with Blakey to Japan, France, Switzerland, and England. Blakey encouraged his band members, including Hicks, to compose for the band, although they also played compositions by previous members of the band. He stayed with Blakey for two years, during which time his playing was compared by fellow jazz pianist George Cables with that of McCoy Tyner, for the level of energy displayed and for some of the intervals that they used.
In the period 1965 to 1967, Hicks worked on and off with vocalist Betty Carter; her liking for slow ballads helped him develop his sense of time. He then joined Woody Herman's big band, where he stayed until 1970, playing as well as writing arrangements for the band. Hicks also began recording as a sideman with a wide range of leaders – in the 1960s these included Booker Ervin, Hank Mobley, and Lee Morgan – a trend that continued for the remainder of his career. From 1972 to 1973, Hicks taught jazz history and improvisation at Southern Illinois University.Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira (2007), The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, p. 317. Oxford University Press. From the 1970s, he also played in more avant garde bands,Corroto, Mark (April 26, 2007), "John Hicks/Buster Williams/Louis Hayes: On the Wings of an Eagle". AllAboutJazz. beginning with recordings led by Oliver Lake and performances and recordings in the Netherlands with Charles Tolliver. He played with Blakey again in 1973. Hicks' debut recording as leader was on May 21, 1975, in England."John Hicks Catalog". jazzdisco.org. Retrieved July 9, 2017. The session resulted in two albums – the trio Hells Bells, with bassist Clint Houston and drummer Cliff Barbaro, and the solo piano Steadfast – that were released by Strata-East Records several years later.Minderman, Dean (January 29, 2012), "StLJN Audio Archive: John Hicks - Hells Bells". St. Louis Jazz Notes."Strata East LP Discography". jazzlists.com. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
Hicks reunited with Carter in 1975, including accompanying her in a musical play, Don't Call Me Man, that year. After recording with Carter on her Now It's My Turn in 1976, Hicks returned to her band full-time; this raised his profile and led to his own recording – After the Morning. His sideman recording also continued, including with Carter Jefferson (1978) and Chico Freeman (1978–79). Hicks was dismissed in 1980 by Carter, a forceful bandleader, for drinking.
1981–89 Some Other Time in 1981, with bassist Walter Booker and drummer Idris Muhammad, revealed more of Hicks as a composer, and included his best-known song, "Naima's Love Song".
Hicks was the leader of groups from the mid-1970s onwards. His small groups included a quartet featuring Sonny Fortune, Walter Booker, and Jimmy Cobb (1975–82, from 1990); a group featuring the flutist Elise Wood (with or without a drummer); and other groups featuring Gary Bartz, Vincent Herring, saxophonist Craig Handy, bassists Curtis Lundy or Ray Drummond and drummers Idris Muhammad or Victor Lewis. His quintets and sextets included Robin Eubanks and Tolliver (both from 1982), Branford Marsalis (1982–4), Hannibal Peterson (from 1983), Wynton Marsalis (1983–4), Craig Harris (1985–6), Eddie Henderson (1985–6, 1988–90), and Freeman (1985–8). A big band was created in autumn 1982 and revived on occasion subsequently. He played in the UK with Freeman's band in 1989.Fordham, John (February 17, 1989), "Chico Freeman". The Guardian. p. 28.
From 1983, the flautist Elise Wood was frequently a member of his groups. As a duo, they played mostly jazz, but also some classical music.Stokes, W. Royal (February 12, 1984), "Hicks' Licks". The Washington Post, p. L3. They formed a business partnership – John Hicks-Elise Wood, Inc. – and toured the US, Europe and Japan in the 1980s.Gourse, Leslie (1996) Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists. Oxford University Press. p. 114. .
He also freelanced, including with players such as Arthur Blythe, David Murray, and Pharoah Sanders. During the 1980s, was a sideman for Richie Cole (1980), Arthur Blythe (In the Tradition), David Murray, Hamiet Bluiett, Art Davis, and Pharoah Sanders; recording with as Ricky Ford (1980, 1982), Alvin Queen (1981), Peter Leitch (1984), Herring (1986), and Bobby Watson (1986, 1988). In 1984, he had a big band that rehearsed; a sextet from it played concerts.Wilson, John S. (July 7, 1984), "Jazz: John Hicks and Sextet". The New York Times. p. 11. From around 1989 into the 1990s, he played with the Mingus Dynasty band, including for performances of the symphony Epitaph. He recorded two albums in Japan in 1988 – the trio East Side Blues and the quartet Naima's Love Song, with altoist Bobby Watson added.Joyce, Mike (September 13, 1991), "Power Trio Key to Hicks's Piano". The Washington Post, p. 14.Cook, Stephen, "John Hicks: Naima's Love Song". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2016. By now making regular appearances at jazz festivals internationally,Schudel, Matt (May 19, 2006), "John Hicks, 64; Pianist Played Jazz with Blakey". The Washington Post. Hicks continued to perform in New York City.Flanagan, Graham L. (May 9, 2009), "John Hicks: Live at the Jazz Corner of the World, Jammin' Uptown & Mind Wine: The Music of John Hicks". AllAboutJazz.
1990–2006 Hicks divorced his wife, Olympia, in the early 1990s. The couple had a son and daughter (Jamil Malik and Naima).Scott, Ron (May 18, 2006), "Pianist John Hicks Dies at 64". New York Amsterdam News, p. 27.