City Newspaper Archives - 2/2007
John Hicks: "Sweet Love of Mine"
Highnote
Published by Ron Netsky on Feb 06, 2007
Over his five-decade career, pianist John Hicks stood out as a sideman with Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Hank Mobley and dozens more. Hicks, who died last year, also recorded more than 30 albums as a leader. His last, Sweet Love of Mine, demonstrates his brilliance as a soloist on his gorgeous compositions "One Peaceful Moment" and "Sunset Blues," and Jule Styne's "The Things We Did Last Summer." The other seven cuts, featuring the talents of Javon Jackson (saxophone), Elise Wood (flutes), Curtis Lundy (bass), Victor Jones (Drums) and Ray Mantilla (percussion) showcase Hicks' expertise as an arranger and bandleader. Several cuts --- including "Mambo Influenciado" and "Once I Loved" --- have a pronounced Latin groove that Hicks slides comfortably into. One ironic inclusion is the lovely memorial tune "I Remember Clifford." The album is a joy to listen to, start to finish; a wonderful celebration of a vibrant life and a sad reminder of how much we've lost.
