Willie Pickens

{{Short description|American jazz pianist, composer, and educator}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Willie Pickens

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|04|18}}

| death_place = Manhattan, New York

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|12|12|1931|4|18}}

| instrument = Piano

| genre = Jazz

| occupation = Musician, composer, arranger, educator

| years_active = 1958–2017

| label =

| associated_acts = {{ubl|Eddie Harris|Elvin Jones}}

}}

Willie Pickens (April 18, 1931 – December 12, 2017) was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator.

Early life

Pickens was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1931.{{cite web |last=Gillaspie |first=Deborah |url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/J666400 |title=Pickens, Willie |website=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians |edition=2nd |access-date=February 22, 2015 |url-access=subscription}} He studied piano formally from the age of 14. He attended Lincoln High School in Milwaukee with saxophonist Bunky Green.{{cite book |last=Stokes |first=W. Royal |year=1993 |title=The Jazz Scene |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=125}} Pickens also studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Later life and career

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.{{rp|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,{{rp|364}} and drummer Louis Bellson in 1994.{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |year=2008 |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |publisher=Penguin Books}}{{rp|109}} Pickens played in drummer Elvin Jones' band between 1990 and 1997, including internationally.{{cite web |last=D'Souza |first=Jerry |date=February 22, 2009 |url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/elvin-jones-jazz-machine-elvin-jones-by-jerry-dsouza.php |title=Elvin Jones Jazz Machine |website=All About Jazz}}

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." In 1999, Pickens was part of the Chicago Jazz Festival's closing act with the Marian McPartland Trio, along with Judy Roberts and Jodie Christian.{{Cite web |title=CJF 1995–1999 |url=https://www.jazzinchicago.org/cjf-1995-1999 |access-date=October 11, 2024 |website=Jazz Institute of Chicago}} 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 also taught at Northern Illinois University's School of Music.{{cite web |url=https://www.niu.edu/music/meet-us/bio/pickens.shtml |title=Willie Pickens |website=Northern Illinois University| access-date=February 22, 2015}} Saxophonist Lou Donaldson once told Donald Harrison, "Willie Pickens is one of the last great bebop pianists."{{cite news |url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/another-solid-week-of-musical-offerings/ |title=Another Solid Week of Musical Offerings |first=Geraldine |last=Wyckoff |newspaper=The Louisiana Weekly |date=January 9, 2017}}

Pickens died of a heart attack in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 86.{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-ent-willie-pickens-dead-1214-story.html |title=Chicago piano titan Willie Pickens dies at 86 |first=Howard |last=Reich |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=December 13, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Tonia |date=December 13, 2017 |url=http://hpherald.com/2017/12/13/legendary-jazz-musician-willie-pickens-died/ |title=Legendary Jazz Musician Willie Pickens Has Died |newspaper=Hyde Park Herald}} His wife, Irma, died in 2015 after 55 years of marriage.{{cite news |last=Reich |first=Howard |date=December 25, 2013 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/12/25/willie-pickens-the-lion-in-winter/ |title=Willie Pickens: The Lion in Winter |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite news |last=Reich |first=Howard |date=February 16, 2016 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-jazz-willie-pickens-ent-0217-20160216-column.html |title=Willie Pickens Makes a Belated Debut and Struggles with a Loss |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}} A daughter, Bethany, also plays the piano professionally and has recorded with her father.{{cite web |last=Santella |first=Jim |date=March 19, 2006 |url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/willie-pickens-jazz-spirit-volume-1-and-2-by-jim-santella.php |title=Willie Pickens: Jazz Spirit, Volume 1 & 2 |website=All About Jazz}}

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

=As leader/co-leader=

class="wikitable sortable"

!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 1986Gribetz, Sid (May 1999) [http://jazztimes.com/articles/8240-it-s-about-time-willie-pickens "Willie Pickens – It's About Time!"]. JazzTimes.

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 Pickens (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)