John Hicks (jazz pianist)

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For other persons named John Hicks, see John Hicks (disambiguation).

John Josephus Hicks, Jr. (b. December 21, 1941, Atlanta, Georgia – d. May 10, 2006) was an American jazz pianist and composer, active in the New York and international jazz scene for over 40 years.

He studied music at Lincoln University in Missouri and Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to New York in 1963.

He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers 1964-1965 and occasionally in the 1970s, worked with Betty Carter 1966-1968 and again 1975-1980, and was in one of Woody Herman's groups 1968-1970. From the early 1980s until his death he performed solo and led his own groups including The Keystone Trio.

Hicks played and recorded with jazz artists such as Joe Lovano, David "Fathead" Newman, George Mraz, Kenny Barron and many others. The pianist recorded the seventh instalment of the "Live at Maybeck Recital Hall" series of solo concerts, which were recorded for Concord Records.

Hicks' last recording is "Sunshower", recorded by Blueport Jazz and produced by ([1]) Audio High. Arguably John Hicks' most notable jazz composition is "Naima's Love Song", dedicated to his daughter.

He died in 2006, aged 64, from undisclosed causes.