"Chicago's own Willie Pickens is a true phenomenon.... a truly humble, kind, honest and
spiritual person with incredible talent, we here in Chicago are fortunate to have a beautiful
soul such as Willie Pickens to appreciate. " Brad Walseth - Jazz Chicago.net
"With his large & complex chords, his great splashes of color and dissonance in the right hand
and his barrelhouse octaves in the left, Pickens never lets the dramatic intensity flag."
Howard Reich - Chicago Tribune
"Pickens' most exuberant solos all but take flight from the keyboard's runway."
Neil Tesser - Chicago Reader
Growing up in the midwest, Willie Pickens earned a teacher’s certificate from the Wisconsin
Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and went on to the University of Wisconsin at
Milwaukee, in 1958, to receive his B.S. in Music Education, before beginning his remarkable
career as a jazz pianist. Over the years, his sterling academic credentials have enabled him to
share his gifts with many young players, both as a performer and teacher.
Upon graduating from school, he moved to Chicago and began his career on a national hit
record -- Eddie Harris' 1961 Exodus. After that big hit, Willie’s live appearances were almost
all limited to the midwest for the next two decades, while his career as an educator flourished.
From 1966 to 1986, he appeared on recordings headlined by Bunky Green, E. Parker
McDougal, Vernel Fournier, He also performed with Sammy Davis Jr., at Orchestra Hall, and
with Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, and Minnie Ripperton at the Mill Run Theatre in Niles,
near Chicago.
In 1990, Willie was invited to join the mighty Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. His first appearance
with this legendary band took place later that year at the Bottom Line in New York and also
featured Wynton Marsalis. Willie’s commitment to the Jazz Machine over the next several
years meant retirement from full-time teaching in the public schools, but enabled him to serve
as a linchpin for the group, appearing in Japan, Europe, and Canada, as well as in many U.S.
cities.
At 77, Willie continues to be one of Chicago’s most in-demand pianists for visiting artists.
He has performed several times at the famed Chicago Jazz Festival, to rave reviews, and has
been the featured pianist on impresario Joe Segal’s Jazz Cruises, where he has shared the stage
with Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, and Red Holloway, among others. He has also performed
with fellow pianist Marian McPartland, both in concert and on her well-loved NPR show,
Piano Jazz. 2001 saw the release of their album of duets Ain’t Misbehavin’ on the Concord
label. His performance is straight-ahead, and utterly stable -- with dense chords, percussive
attack, and flying solos -- echoing the artistry of McCoy Tyner. Lately, he's matured as both a
soloist and bandleader, letting the space between the notes speak. While he's not as showy as
many of the younger folks, he always puts on a great show.
spiritual person with incredible talent, we here in Chicago are fortunate to have a beautiful
soul such as Willie Pickens to appreciate. " Brad Walseth - Jazz Chicago.net
"With his large & complex chords, his great splashes of color and dissonance in the right hand
and his barrelhouse octaves in the left, Pickens never lets the dramatic intensity flag."
Howard Reich - Chicago Tribune
"Pickens' most exuberant solos all but take flight from the keyboard's runway."
Neil Tesser - Chicago Reader
Growing up in the midwest, Willie Pickens earned a teacher’s certificate from the Wisconsin
Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and went on to the University of Wisconsin at
Milwaukee, in 1958, to receive his B.S. in Music Education, before beginning his remarkable
career as a jazz pianist. Over the years, his sterling academic credentials have enabled him to
share his gifts with many young players, both as a performer and teacher.
Upon graduating from school, he moved to Chicago and began his career on a national hit
record -- Eddie Harris' 1961 Exodus. After that big hit, Willie’s live appearances were almost
all limited to the midwest for the next two decades, while his career as an educator flourished.
From 1966 to 1986, he appeared on recordings headlined by Bunky Green, E. Parker
McDougal, Vernel Fournier, He also performed with Sammy Davis Jr., at Orchestra Hall, and
with Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, and Minnie Ripperton at the Mill Run Theatre in Niles,
near Chicago.
In 1990, Willie was invited to join the mighty Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. His first appearance
with this legendary band took place later that year at the Bottom Line in New York and also
featured Wynton Marsalis. Willie’s commitment to the Jazz Machine over the next several
years meant retirement from full-time teaching in the public schools, but enabled him to serve
as a linchpin for the group, appearing in Japan, Europe, and Canada, as well as in many U.S.
cities.
At 77, Willie continues to be one of Chicago’s most in-demand pianists for visiting artists.
He has performed several times at the famed Chicago Jazz Festival, to rave reviews, and has
been the featured pianist on impresario Joe Segal’s Jazz Cruises, where he has shared the stage
with Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, and Red Holloway, among others. He has also performed
with fellow pianist Marian McPartland, both in concert and on her well-loved NPR show,
Piano Jazz. 2001 saw the release of their album of duets Ain’t Misbehavin’ on the Concord
label. His performance is straight-ahead, and utterly stable -- with dense chords, percussive
attack, and flying solos -- echoing the artistry of McCoy Tyner. Lately, he's matured as both a
soloist and bandleader, letting the space between the notes speak. While he's not as showy as
many of the younger folks, he always puts on a great show.
| Willie Pickens |
O My Soul Bless Your Redeemer
Let Us Break Bread Together
Here I am Lord
| Willie plays "Un Poco Loco" |
| Willie plays "Polka-dots and Moonbeams" |
| Click on the controls below to watch vidoes of Willie playing |