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JAZZ REVIEWS ROBERT HICKS New Standards VELOCITY VCD 82863 991-92, 53:08 Robert Hicks is a charmer. He has joie de vivre that sounds genuine--though it's hard to find in these psychically turbulent times--when supported by solid musicianship. He makes you think of Harry Connick Jr. because he is a young singer/pianist/arranger with a subtle, '90s slant on nostalgia. His tenor voice is lighter and prettier than Connick's, but Hicks can still achieve serious affects: "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" is a gentle, adult love song, and the escapist "Moonlight In Vermont" manages to be both ethereal and convincing. The program may be quaint, but Hicks' liberated spirit applies many twists and tangents. Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out Of You" evolves into an exercise in tension and release. Jerome Kern's "The Song Is You" soars and bounces on the elastic snap of Chuck Flores' brushes and Morty Corb's bass (not to mention Hicks' ecstatic shoobee-doobees). There are firm jazz foundations beneath all this fun. Hicks prods himself with his own precise piano fills. The horn soloists--trumpeter Graham Young, reed player Doug Webb, trombonist George Bohanon--are interesting individualists who are seamlessly meshed into Hicks' whimsical world. If you are not too jaded for a voice with a smile in it, if you understand how urbanity and sentimentality can sometimes fruitfully coexist, if you are reassured by the sure signs of craftsmanship, then Robert Hicks will work for you too. -Thomas Conrad C D R E V I E W PULSE MAGAZINE Introducing Robert Hicks Robert Hicks is a very talented singer/pianist/arranger in his 20s whose current album "New Standards" (Velocity) is actually a collection of new versions of some old standards. Unlike some young singers who approach the standard repertoire with some bewilderment and a lot of forced effort, Hicks obviously understands these songs and is very comfortable performing them. His scat singing on "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" and "The Song Is You" compares favorably with that of Mel Torme. And there's a smoothness to his ballad singing on "Moonlight in Vermont" and "Early Autumn" that may remind you of Chet Baker. Accompaniment ranges from Hicks' piano with bass and drums on some tracks to a big-band sound on "The Carioca" with trumpets, trombones and saxes. -Steve Gruber lives an works in the San Franczsco Bay area. REVIEWS JAZZSCENE Hicks recalls young Chet Baker By Wayne Thompson "New Standards," Robert Hicks, piano, vocals. What a treat! It takes a Chet Baker fan to know one. Actually, Hicks has a much better tone and sense of pitch than Baker, even the young Baker, before drugs and a hard life coarsened Chet's voice and delivery. "Don't Worry About Me" was the give-away tune. I found no evidence in my record collection that Chet Baker had ever recorded this Rube Bloom/Ted Koehler ballad. Had he done so, he would have had to ask Robert Hicks for permission. For me, Hicks owns that song now. While his singing is the prominent feature, including some imaginative skatting that Mel Torme would admire, Hicks' piano work also is first rate - a light touch, a minimalist style not unIike a George Shearing. He's got the whole package. On this album, Hicks is assisted by some superb West Coast players, such as trombonist George Bohanon, trumpeter Graham Young and saxophonist Doug Webb. This is a keeper, for the fire, late at night, with romance in the air. Notes and Chords Robert Hicks comes home By Nancy Tice When I first started doing my column in October of 1991, I used to worry that I wouldn't have enough material to fill a column each and every month. Happily, there have always been lots of great stories to share, and this month is no exception. At a recent JSO board meeting, Odille Newton brought in a CD of a new male vocalist and pianist in town, Robert Hicks, for us all to check out. The CD is called, "New Standards" and it's terrific. It is full of standards like "Let's Fall In Love," and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," and "Moonlight in Vermont," but it is Robert's special interpretation that has been so favorably reviewed. (See Wayne Thompson's comments on opposite page.) Actually, Hicks is a Portland native who moved on to Los Angeles for seven years, where he lead a very busy artistic life performing in major hotels, clubs and restaurants all over Southern California. In 1989, he went on a six month tour of Japan, working in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Even though he says being in Japan is like being on Mars because of the language and cultural differences, he found the people loved jazz and were always great audiences. He met a lot of Americans living in Japan, mostly teaching English so he had people he could talk to. He said many Japanese know some English, so with sign language, he found it easy to get along. After returning to California, he discovered that the music scene had changed due to the recession, so decided to move back to the Northwest with the Columbia Gorge, trees and great hiking places. Also he says he really enjoys the relaxed, warm, accessibility of the people here, the strong sense of community, and vibrant music scene. Hicks began playing the piano at the age of five, teaching himself to play by ear from the 78 rpm recordings of Tommy Dorsey and Stan Kenton dug out of his grandmother's attic. He began singing jazz at age eight, and began classical study at age nine; singing is something he says he has always done. He has been influenced by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker and Chris Conner, among others. Of his CD, Cadence Magazine's Jerome Wilson says, "Hicks has a buttery sound and enough rhythmic invention to breathe new life into a lot of old songs that had been worked to death by the campy railings of cabaret singers. He consistently underplays in his vocals, either playing the sweet-signing romantic or scatting wildly with fine instrumental support, including his own competent piano and vibes." Thomas Conrad of CD Review says, "if you are not too jaded for a voice with a smile in it, if you understand how urbanity and sentimentality can sometimes fruitfully coexist, if you are reassured by the sure signs of craftsmanship, then Robert Hicks will work for you too." Also appearing on the CD are Morty Corb, bass, Chuck Flores, drums, AI Viola, guitar, Graham Young, trumpet, George Bohanon, trombones, Doug Webb, tenor sax, Ron Kalina, harmonica, Rick Baptist, trumpet, Alan Kaplan, trombone, Dan Higgins, alto & tenor and clarinet, Peter Hix, guitar, Steve Bailey bass, and Dan Greco drums and percussion. It is on the Velocity Label, and the liner notes are by Pete Rugolo, formally chief arranger and composer for the Stan Kenton orchestra, and later, music director of Capitol Records. Hicks is currently spending his time working on arrangements for different groups of musicians, practicing a lot, working on some original compositions, and doing lots of hiking. He plans to record at least two more CDs in the not too distant future.

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