Willie Pickens: Difference between revisions
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Pickens recorded with clarinetist [[Buddy DeFranco]] in 1977,<ref name="Penguin" />{{rp|364}} and drummer [[Louis Bellson]] in 1994.<ref name="Penguin">Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian (2008) ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings''. Penguin.</ref>{{rp|109}} Pickens played in drummer [[Elvin Jones]]' band between 1990 and 1997,<ref name="Grove" /> including internationally.<ref>D'Souza, Jerry (February 22, 2009) [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/elvin-jones-jazz-machine-elvin-jones-by-jerry-dsouza.php "Elvin Jones Jazz Machine"]. AllAboutJazz.</ref> |
Pickens recorded with clarinetist [[Buddy DeFranco]] in 1977,<ref name="Penguin" />{{rp|364}} and drummer [[Louis Bellson]] in 1994.<ref name="Penguin">Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian (2008) ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings''. Penguin.</ref>{{rp|109}} Pickens played in drummer [[Elvin Jones]]' band between 1990 and 1997,<ref name="Grove" /> including internationally.<ref>D'Souza, Jerry (February 22, 2009) [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/elvin-jones-jazz-machine-elvin-jones-by-jerry-dsouza.php "Elvin Jones Jazz Machine"]. AllAboutJazz.</ref> |
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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."<ref name="Grove" /> 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.<ref name="CT" /> He has taught at [[Northern Illinois University]]'s School of Music since 1997.<ref name="Grove" /><ref name="NIU">[http://www.niu.edu/music/faculty/wpickens.shtml "Willie Pickens"]. Northern Illinois University. Retrieved February 22, 2015.</ref> |
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."<ref name="Grove" /> 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.<ref name="CT" /> The great saxophonist Lou Donaldson recently told Donald Harrison, "Willie Pickens is one of the last great bebop pianist." He has taught at [[Northern Illinois University]]'s School of Music since 1997.<ref name="Grove" /><ref name="NIU">[http://www.niu.edu/music/faculty/wpickens.shtml "Willie Pickens"]. Northern Illinois University. Retrieved February 22, 2015.</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
Revision as of 19:33, 22 December 2016
Willie Pickens | |
---|---|
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | April 18, 1931
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, educator |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | Early 1960s–present |
Willie Pickens (born April 18, 1931) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator.
Early life
Pickens 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] The great saxophonist Lou Donaldson recently told Donald Harrison, "Willie Pickens is one of the last great bebop pianist." 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 professionally 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 Carril (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 | Eddie Harris | Exodus to Jazz | Vee-Jay |
1961 | Eddie Harris | Mighty Like a Rose | Vee-Jay |
1961 | Eddie Harris | Jazz for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Vee-Jay |
1961–62 | Eddie Harris | A Study in Jazz | Vee-Jay |
1963 | Eddie Harris | For Bird and Bags | Exodus |
1966 | Bunky Green | Playin' for Keeps | Cadet |
1977 | Buddy DeFranco | Gone with the Wind | Storyville |
1990s | Francine Griffin | The Song Bird | Delmark |
1991 | Elvin Jones | In Europe | Enja |
1992 | Elvin Jones | Going Home | Enja |
1993 | Elvin Jones | It Don't Mean a Thing | Enja |
1993 | Steve Grossman | Time to Smile | Dreyfus |
1994 | Louie Bellson | Salute | Chiaroscuro |
1994 | Ed Peterson | The Haint | Delmark |
1995 | Clark Terry | Top and Bottom Brass | Chiaroscuro |
1997 | Frank Catalano | Cut It Out | Delmark |
1998 | Von Freeman | 75th Birthday Celebration | Half Note |
1998 | Von Freeman | Von & Ed | Delmark |
1999 | Malachi Thompson | Talkin' Horns | Delmark |
2014* | Peter Lerner | Continuation | Origin |
Main source:[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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.
- ^ a b c d Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian (2008) The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin.
- ^ a b "Willie Pickens". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ D'Souza, Jerry (February 22, 2009) "Elvin Jones Jazz Machine". AllAboutJazz.
- ^ a b 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.