I'll Give You Something To Remember Me By... - John Hicks Trio (1LP Vinyl)

I'll Give You Something To Remember Me By... by John Hicks Trio.

There is a particular kind of magic that happens when a pianist of John Hicks's caliber steps into an intimate trio setting, and this 1987 session captures it beautifully. Recorded on March 12 at Studio 44 in Monster, The Netherlands, the album finds Hicks working through a program that balances his own compositional voice with a thoughtfully chosen handful of jazz standards, all delivered with the warmth and swing that made him one of the most respected accompanists and leaders of his generation.

The A side opens with the assertive "Hold It Down," a statement of intent that sets the tone before the trio moves into the graceful "Pas De Trois." From there, Hicks turns to Thelonious Monk with a reading of "Monk's Mood," a piece that rewards a pianist willing to sit inside its harmonic corners, and the side closes with the gently swinging "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," a standard that has long served as a proving ground for players who understand how to phrase a ballad without sentimentality.

Flip the record over and the energy lifts again with "Airegin," the Sonny Rollins line that has become a jazz staple, its angular momentum offering plenty of room for the trio to stretch out. It gives way to "My Foolish Heart," one of the most beloved ballads in the repertoire, before the group turns to "Blue In Green," the hushed and reflective piece forever associated with the Kind of Blue sessions. The album signs off with "Coral Keys," a fitting close that lets Hicks bring the set home on his own terms.

What makes this record such a rewarding listen is the way Hicks moves between these different worlds. He treats Monk with respect but never reverence, brings a singing lyricism to the ballads, and drives the up tempo material with real authority. This is trio jazz as conversation, three voices listening and responding, each track breathing with the immediacy of players fully engaged with one another and with the material.

For the collector, the physical package is every bit as considered as the music. This is a limited edition pressing of just 500 copies, cut on 180g black vinyl for the kind of weight and quiet surfaces that let the acoustic detail of a piano trio come through clearly. It arrives complete with its obi strip, the finishing touch that marks it out as a proper collector's object.

Whether you know John Hicks from his work as a leader or from his countless appearances as a sideman, this session is a fine document of an artist at ease and at his most communicative. A limited pressing like this does not stay on the shelf long.

Pressing Details:
Recorded March 12, 1987 at Studio 44, Monster, The Netherlands

Limited to 500 copies
180g edition black vinyl
Comes with obi strip

Track Listing:
A1. Hold It Down
A2. Pas De Trois
A3. Monk's Mood
A4. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
B1. Airegin
B2. My Foolish Heart
B3. Blue In Green
B4. Coral Keys

Artist: John Hicks Trio

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Tidal Waves Music

Catalog Number: TWM83

Release Year: 2023

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)

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