Patti Wicks

Bio:

Her phrasing is behind the beat, and yet extremely fluid, and most effective in communicating a lyric. She has a killer sense of swing and a repertoire filled with illustrious standards as well as lesser-known lost gems which she manages to restore to their original luster. ANCONA JAZZ

Each listener seems to get individual attention. It is like having her and her trio live in the same room with you. ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Wicks' performances are like that book you can't put down, while the unattended bathtub is overflowing or the neglected oven burns the roast to a crisp. CADENCE MAGAZINE

PATTI WICKS is an outstanding jazz pianist and singer with a distinctive, smoky voice; a storyteller whose delivery of a lyric makes an immediate and personal connection with the listener, both in her live performances and her recordings. “It should be noted that Patti has the rare ability to excel as a singer and as an instrumentalist, which talents place her in a very select category.” - Mort Fega

Born in Islip, New York in 1945, Patti amazed her family at age 3, by going to the piano and repeating the song her mother had just played. She studied classical piano for 15 years with a teacher who also encouraged Patti’s gift for composing. She also learned to play and sing popular songs at home by listening to recordings.

Her life-long passion for jazz began while a student at Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, after hearing Miles Davis and Bill Evans recordings. She absorbed the music of the all the jazz giants from recordings her friends generously provided; sat in at college jam sessions, and spent the last year and a half playing weekend gigs in jazz trios and quartets until graduation.

Moving to New York City in 1969, she spent the next 20 years playing jazz clubs such as Bradley’s, The Half Note and Gulliver’s (NJ); frequently working with bassists Sam Jones, Richard Davis, Brian Torff. Her trios included drummers Louis Hayes, Mickey Roker, Alan Dawson and Curtis Boyd.

Other highlights of Patti’s career over the past 15 years include working as a pianist with jazz luminaries Clark Terry, Larry Coryell, Cecil Payne, Frank Morgan, Flip Phillips; accompanying renowned vocalists Anita O’Day, Sheila Jordan, Carol Sloane and Rebecca Parris to name a few.

She’s been a featured guest on piano legend Marian McPartland’s award-winning NPR show “Piano Jazz.”

Based in South Florida, between local performances Patti continues touring the US performing at: The Jazz Standard, The Metropolitan Room (NYC), Blues Alley (D.C.); Bake's Place, (WA),The Jazz Cruise; The Cape May and Syracuse Jazz Festivals (USA); Tranquility Jazz Festival, Anguilla (BWI). In Italy: The Blue Note (Milan), The Alexanderplatz (Rome), Teatro Della Muse (Ancona ),The Jazz Club (Ferrara), Club Suprema (La Spezia) Jazz Club Torino; Livorno, La Spezia, Euro Jazz d'Ivrea, and Argo JazzFestivals, with bassist Giovanni Sanguineti and drummer Giovanni Gullino.

Critics refer to vocalist Wicks as "an extraordinary interpreter;" a “musical spellbinder.” Cadence Magazine noted: “She sings these songs with an attention to nuance and interpretive detail that's genuinely riveting.” As a jazz pianist: “Her solos are imaginative and impressive in their construction; this is jazz piano playing of the very highest order.” declared Jazz Journal International’s Bruce Crowther.

Patti’s 7 CDs have received rave reviews from major US and international jazz publications. “Patti Wicks’ 1998 debut release Room At The Top establishes her as a world class singer-pianist.” - jazz critic Joel E. Siegel;

“Love Locked Out (2003 MAXJAZZ) deserves a place on the CD shelf right alongside [Shirley] Horn’s finest recordings. It’s that good.” -Mike Joyce, Washington Post

Italy releases w/ Giovannni Sanguineti, bass; Giovanni Gullino, drums: "Basic Feeling" (2005) (EGEA Dist) feat. Claudio Chiara, alto sax; “Patti Wicks is the artist responsible for the extraordinary Basic Feeling, her “Italian” album.. The record is a real gem…”-F. Francione, IL CITTADINO

"Italian Sessions" (2006) w/ sp. guest Gianni Basso, tenor sax: “The instrumental solos here, especially from Patti and Gianni, are exceptional and the singing exemplary throughout, as indeed it always is.” -- Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal International

“It’s A Good Day” (Geco Records) 2007 received the Italian Jazz Award for Best Jazz Album of 2008. “I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance” and “My Romance” truly showcase Patti Wicks. The former [shows] that she is an unparalleled interpreter of ballads… The latter is simply a tour de force of her considerable piano skills.” - C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

"Two For The Road," a duo CD with Patti & Claudio Chiara, alto sax was released in March, 2008.

Just released in spring 2009, Patti's new CD: "Dedicated To..." (Geco Records) 2009 features her Italian trio with special guest tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton.

Visit www.pattiwicks.com for additional information. Patti is also a member of The Jazz Network Worldwide, Facebook, and Twitter.

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