Willie Pickens

Veteran Chicago pianist Willie Pickens will grace the stage of the Green Mill in Chicago with a stellar quintet featuring Willie Pickens on piano, Pharez Whitted on trumpet, Todd Herbert on sax,  Dennis Carroll on bass, and Robert Shy on drums on Friday, October 26th and Saturday, October 27th.

Willie Pickens turned 80 last year. His contributions to the world of jazz and music education have been immeasurable. The list of musicians with whom he has worked is a veritable who’s who of the industry: Elvin Jones, James Moody, Max Roach, Eddie Harris, Marian McPartland, Roy Hargrove, Bobby Hutcherson—the list goes on and on.

In 1954, Willie 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. His sterling academic credentials have enabled him to share his gifts with many young players, both as a performer and teacher.

After he had recorded and toured with the multitalented Eddie Harris in the early ’60s, 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, and Joanie Pallatto. 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.

Now in his 80's 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.

Pharez Whitted

Pharez grew up in Indianapolis Indiana where he attended Shortridge High School, receiving his undergraduate degree from Depauw University and his graduate degree from Indiana University. He also was on the MoTown Jazz Label MoJazz where he released two CDs under his name Pharez Whitted and Mysterious Cargo. Pharez presently is director of jazz studies at Chicago State University.

The Green Mill is located at 4802 N. Broadway Ave in Chicago. For more information call 773-878-5552 or visit www.greenmilljazz.com.

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