Willie Pickens

Willie Pickens (April 18, 1931 – December 13, 2017) was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Pickens was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1931. He studied piano formally from the age of 14. He attended Lincoln High School in Milwaukee with saxophonist Bunky Green. Pickens also studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Pickens joined the army in 1951. He obtained a B.S. in music education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1958 and moved to Chicago in the same year. 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. Pickens taught music at public schools from 1966 until 1990. He was also a faculty member of the American Conservatory of Music between 1971 and 1987. Pickens recorded with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1977, and drummer Louis Bellson in 1994. Pickens played in drummer Elvin Jones' band between 1990 and 1997, including internationally. 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." 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. He has taught at Northern Illinois University's School of Music since 1997. The saxophonist Lou Donaldson told Donald Harrison, "Willie Pickens is one of the last great bebop pianists." Pickens died in New York on December 13, 2017. Pickens' wife, Irma Pickens, died in 2015 after 55 years of marriage. A daughter, Bethany, also plays the piano professionally and has recorded with her father. Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release. As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes 1987It's About Time!SouthportTrio, with Dan Shapera (bass), Robert Shy (drums); reissued on CD with concert solo piano tracks from 1981 and 1986 1998Jazz ChristmasSouthportQuartet, with Nicholas Payton (trumpet, flugelhorn), Larry Gray (bass), Robert Shy (drums) 2000Ain't Misbehavin'Concord JazzDuo, with Marian McPartland (piano) 2005Mr SwingPony CanyonTrio, with George Mraz (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); also released as Dark Eyes 2005Jazz Spirit, Volume 1SouthportSome 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) 2005Jazz Spirit, Volume 2SouthportAs Jazz Spirit, Volume 1; differences are Pat Mallinger (alto sax), Tito Carrillo (trumpet, flugelhorn) 2010*Just Like MeSkiptoneDuo, with Milton Suggs (vocals) As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel 1961Eddie HarrisExodus to JazzVee-Jay 1961Eddie HarrisMighty Like a RoseVee-Jay 1961Eddie HarrisJazz for "Breakfast at Tiffany's"Vee-Jay 1961–62Eddie HarrisA Study in JazzVee-Jay 1963Eddie HarrisFor Bird and BagsExodus 1966Bunky GreenPlayin' for KeepsCadet 1977Buddy DeFrancoGone with the WindStoryville 1990sFrancine GriffinThe Song BirdDelmark 1991Elvin JonesIn EuropeEnja 1992Elvin JonesGoing HomeEnja 1993Elvin JonesIt Don't Mean a ThingEnja 1993Steve GrossmanTime to SmileDreyfus 1994Louie BellsonSaluteChiaroscuro 1994Ed PetersonThe HaintDelmark 1995Clark TerryTop and Bottom BrassChiaroscuro 1997Frank CatalanoCut It OutDelmark 1998Von Freeman75th Birthday CelebrationHalf Note 1998Von FreemanVon & EdDelmark 1999Malachi ThompsonTalkin' HornsDelmark 2014*Peter LernerContinuationOrigin