R.I.P., John Hicks (2)

from the HighNote label:

"Of course, we at HighNote are saddened and shocked by the tragic loss of our friend John Hicks. There is far too little beauty in the today's world that we can afford to lose a beautiful person and maker of such beautiful art.

I can hear the Heavenly conversation now: An elder statesman of jazz passes away and meets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, "A jazz player, eh? You know, we have a pretty good jazz band here." The jazz man asks if he can join the group and St. Peter says they are rehearsing right now and takes him over to the bandstand. There's Louis, Bix, Woody Shaw on trumpets. Bill Harris, Vic Dickenson, J.J. Johnson are in the 'bone section. Bird, Trane, Gerry, & Desmond are on reeds. "Geeze," says the jazzman, "that's some band! They are fabulous. But that piano player is horrible!" "Yes, we know," says St. Peter in an apologetic tone. "We let G-d play the rehearsals, but John Hicks plays the concerts."

We will all miss him. Joe, Barney, Ray & Raghu
The Crew, HighNote Records"