Willie Pickens
| Willie Pickens | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 18, 1931 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, educator |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | Early 1960s–present |
| Associated acts | Eddie Harris, Elvin Jones |
Willie Pickens (born April 18, 1931) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator.
Early life
Perkins was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1931.[1] He studied piano formally from the age of 14.[1] He attended Lincoln High School in Milwaukee with saxophonist Bunky Green.[2] Pickens also studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.[1]
Later life and career
Pickens joined the army in 1951.[1] He obtained a B.S. in music education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1958 and moved to Chicago in the same year.[1]
In the early 1960s, Pickens played on saxophonist Eddie Harris' first four recordings for Vee-Jay Records.[3]:655 His period with Harris lasted between 1960 and 1966.[1] Pickens taught music at public schools from 1966 until 1990.[1] He was also a faculty member of the American Conservatory of Music between 1971 and 1987.[1][4]
Pickens recorded with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1977,[3]:364 and drummer Louis Bellson in 1994.[3]:109 Pickens played in drummer Elvin Jones' band between 1990 and 1997,[1] including internationally.[5]
According to The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, "Pickens appeared regularly at international jazz festivals and performed at Chicago Jazz Festival almost yearly from its inception."[1] For jazz musicians in Chicago, Pickens has become "a revered mentor to younger players and a symbol of the music itself", in the words of a Chicago Tribune commentator.[6] He has taught at Northern Illinois University's School of Music since 1997.[1][4]
Personal life
Pickens' wife is Irma Pickens.[6] A daughter, Bethany, also plays the piano, and has recorded with her father.[7]
Discography
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | It's About Time! | Southport | Trio, with Dan Shapera (bass), Robert Shy (drums); reissued on CD with concert solo piano tracks from 1981 and 1986[8] |
| 1998 | Jazz Christmas | Southport | Quartet, with Nicholas Payton (trumpet, flugelhorn), Larry Gray (bass), Robert Shy (drums) |
| 2000 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Concord Jazz | Duo, with Marian McPartland (piano) |
| 2005 | Mr Swing | Pony Canyon | Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); also released as Dark Eyes |
| 2005 | Jazz Spirit, Volume 1 | Southport | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks duo, with Bethany Pickets (piano); other tracks include Pat Mallinger (tenor sax, alto sax), Ari Brown (tenor sax), Tito Carrillo (flugelhorn), Marlene Rosenberg, Rob Amster, Larry Gray (bass; separately), Kobie Watkins, Robert Shy (drums; separately) |
| 2005 | Jazz Spirit, Volume 2 | Southport | As Jazz Spirit, Volume 1; differences are Pat Mallinger (alto sax), Tito Carrillo (trumpet, flugelhorn) |
| 2010* | Just Like Me | Skiptone | Duo, with Milton Suggs (vocals) |
As sideman
| Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Harris, EddieEddie Harris | Exodus to Jazz | Vee-Jay |
| 1961 | Harris, EddieEddie Harris | Mighty Like a Rose | Vee-Jay |
| 1961 | Harris, EddieEddie Harris | Jazz for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Vee-Jay |
| 1961–62 | Harris, EddieEddie Harris | A Study in Jazz | Vee-Jay |
| 1963 | Harris, EddieEddie Harris | For Bird and Bags | Exodus |
| 1966 | Green, BunkyBunky Green | Playin' for Keeps | Cadet |
| 1977 | DeFranco, BuddyBuddy DeFranco | Gone with the Wind | Storyville |
| 1990s | Griffin, FrancineFrancine Griffin | The Song Bird | Delmark |
| 1991 | Jones, ElvinElvin Jones | In Europe | Enja |
| 1992 | Jones, ElvinElvin Jones | Going Home | Enja |
| 1993 | Jones, ElvinElvin Jones | It Don't Mean a Thing | Enja |
| 1993 | Grossman, SteveSteve Grossman | Time to Smile | Dreyfus |
| 1994 | Bellson, LouieLouie Bellson | Salute | Chiaroscuro |
| 1994 | Peterson, EdEd Peterson | The Haint | Delmark |
| 1995 | Terry, ClarkClark Terry | Top and Bottom Brass | Chiaroscuro |
| 1997 | Catalano, FrankFrank Catalano | Cut It Out | Delmark |
| 1998 | Freeman, VonVon Freeman | 75th Birthday Celebration | Half Note |
| 1998 | Freeman, VonVon Freeman | Von & Ed | Delmark |
| 1999 | Thompson, MalachiMalachi Thompson | Talkin' Horns | Delmark |
| 2014* | Lerner, PeterPeter Lerner | Continuation | Origin |
Main source:[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Gillaspie, Deborah "Pickens, Willie". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2nd ed.). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 22, 2015. (subscription required)
- ↑ Stokes, W. Royal (1993) "The Jazz Scene". Oxford University Press. p. 125.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian (2008) The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Willie Pickens". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ↑ D'Souza, Jerry (February 22, 2009) "Elvin Jones Jazz Machine". AllAboutJazz.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Reich, Howard (December 25, 2013) "Willie Pickens: The Lion in Winter". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ Santella, Jim (March 19, 2006) "Willie Pickens: Jazz Spirit, Volume 1 & 2". AllAboutJazz.
- ↑ Gribetz, Sid (May 1999) "Willie Pickens – It's About Time!". JazzTimes.