Aaron Parks (born October 7, 1983) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

pianist.

Career

A native of Seattle, Parks studied at the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattl ...

at the age of 14 through the Transition School and Early Entrance Program as a double major in computer science and music. At 15 he was selected to participate in the Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles which inspired him to move to New York City and transfer to the Manhattan School of Music. At Manhattan one of his teachers was Kenny Barron. During his final year he began touring with

Terence Blanchard Terence Oliver Blanchard (born March 13, 1962) is an American trumpeter and composer. He started his career in 1982 as a member of the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, then The Jazz Messengers. He has composed more than forty film scores and performed ...

's band, recording three albums with him for

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...

, including the Grammy-winning ''A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)''. Parks can be heard on the soundtracks to ''

Their Eyes Were Watching God ''Their Eyes Were Watching God'' is a 1937 novel by American writer Zora Neale Hurston. It is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance, and Hurston's best known work. The novel explores main character Janie Crawford's "ripening from a v ...

'' and the

Spike Lee Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...

films ''

Inside Man ''Inside Man'' is a 2006 American heist thriller film directed by Spike Lee and written by Russell Gewirtz. It centers on an elaborate bank heist on Wall Street over a 24-hour period. The film stars Denzel Washington as Detective Keith Fr ...

'', ''

She Hate Me ''She Hate Me'' is a 2004 American independent comedy drama film directed by Spike Lee and starring Anthony Mackie, Kerry Washington, Ellen Barkin, Monica Bellucci, Brian Dennehy, Woody Harrelson, Bai Ling, John Turturro, and Ossie Davis in his ...

'', and ''

When the Levees Broke ''When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts'' is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana following the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and ...

''. Parks released his first four albums on Keynote Records between 1999 and 2002. In 2008, he released '' Invisible Cinema'', his debut for

. Following this he released two albums for ECM, and is currently an artist on

Ropeadope Records Ropeadope Records is an American record label known for recordings in a variety of genres including jazz, hip hop, gospel, and electronic music. The label, now led by Louis Marks, was founded in 1999 by Andy HurwitzAndy Hurwitz"Ropeadope carves i ...

. He is a member of the band James Farm with saxophonist

Joshua Redman Joshua Redman (born February 1, 1969) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is the son of jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman (1931–2006). Life and career Joshua Redman was born in Berkeley, California, to jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman ...

, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland. He has toured with guitarist

Kurt Rosenwinkel Kurt Rosenwinkel (born October 28, 1970) is an American jazz guitarist, keyboardist, composer, bandleader, producer, educator and record label owner. Biography A native of Philadelphia, Rosenwinkel attended the Philadelphia High School for the ...

Awards and honors

* 2001: Cole Porter Fellow of the

American Pianists Association The American Pianists Association is a performing arts organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, that holds two national, quadrennial piano competitions in alternating 2-year cycles: the Classical Fellowship Awards and the Jazz Fellowshi ...

* 2006: Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition (Third Place) * Jas Hennessy Piano Solo Competition at Montreux (Third Place) * 2016: '' DownBeat'' magazine: “25 for the Future”

Discography

As leader

* ''The Promise'' (Keynote, 1999) * ''First Romance'' (Keynote, 2000) * ''The Wizard'' (Keynote, 2001) * ''Shadows'' (Keynote, 2002) * '' Invisible Cinema'' (

, 2008) * ''Alive in Japan'' (Independent, 2013) * ''Arborescence'' ( ECM, 2013) * ''Groovements'' (Stunt, 2016) * ''Find the Way'' (ECM, 2017) * ''Little Big'' (Ropeadope, 2018) * ''Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man'' (Ropeadope, 2020) * ''Volume One'' with Matt Brewer & Eric Harland (Ahem, 2022) * ''Volume Two'' with Matt Brewer & Eric Harland (Ahem, 2022)

As member

James Farm
With

, Matt Penman and Eric Harland * ''James Farm'' ( Nonesuch, 2011) * ''City Folk'' (Nonesuch, 2014)

As sideman

With

* '' Bounce'' (Blue Note, 2003) * '' Flow'' (Blue Note, 2005) – recorded in 2004 * ''

A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina) ''A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)'' is a studio album recorded in 2007 by the Terence Blanchard Quintet. The album was originally released on by Blue Note Records. In 2008, Blanchard won a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemb ...

'' (Blue Note, 2007) With

Mike Moreno Mike Moreno (born October 8, 1978) is a jazz guitarist and composer from Houston, Texas. According to an NPR interview in 2008,Jackson, Josh, (Feb. 5, 2008).Mike Moreno: Jazz Guitar 'Between the Lines'. NPR. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2013. Moreno's ma ...

* ''Between the Lines'' (World Culture Music, 2007) – recorded in 2006 * ''First in Mind'' (Criss Cross, 2011) * ''Another Way'' (World Culture Music, 2012) * ''Lotus'' (World Culture Music, 2015) With

Christian Scott Christian Scott (born March 31, 1983), known professionally as Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah), is an American jazz trumpeter, multi instrumentalist, composer, and producer. He has been nominated for six Gramm ...

* '' Anthem'' (

Concord Jazz Concord Jazz is a record company and label founded in 1973 by Carl Jefferson, the former owner of Jefferson Motors Lincoln Mercury dealership in Concord, California. The label was named after the city in the East San Francisco Bay area, and the j ...

, 2007) * '' Live at Newport'' (Concord Jazz, 2008) – live With

Dayna Stephens Dayna Stephens (born August 1, 1978) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. In addition to leading his own group, Stephens has performed extensively with Kenny Barron, Ambrose Akinmusire, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Eric Harland, and Ger ...

* ''Today Is Tomorrow'' (Criss Cross, 2012) * ''Reminiscent'' (Criss Cross, 2015) * ''Right Now!'' (Contagious Music, 2020) With others * Ambrose Akinmusire, ''Prelude'' (Fresh Sound, 2008) *

Monika Borzym Monika Borzym (; born March 3, 1990) is a Polish jazz singer who studied at Los Angeles Music Academy. Her debut album ''Girl Talk'', released in 2011 was certified platinum in Poland. History Early life and education (1998–2008) Monika Borzy ...

, ''Girl Talk'' (Sony, 2011) *

Francesco Cafiso Francesco Cafiso (born 24 May 1989) is an Italian jazz alto saxophonist. Cafiso was born in Sicily on 24 May 1989. He was successful musically from a young age: he played duets with pianist Franco D'Andrea at the 2002 Umbria Jazz Festival, toure ...

, ''Angelica'' (CAM Jazz, 2009) *

Cant Cant, CANT, canting, or canted may refer to: Language * Cant (language), a secret language * Beurla Reagaird, a language of the Scottish Highland Travellers * Scottish Cant, a language of the Scottish Lowland Travellers * Shelta or the Cant, a la ...

, ''Dreams Come True'' (Terrible, 2011) *

Terri Lyne Carrington Terri Lyne Carrington (born August 4, 1965) is an American jazz drummer, composer, producer, and educator. She has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets, and ma ...

, ''Waiting Game'' (Motema, 2019) * Anders Christensen Trio, ''Dear Someone'' (Stunt, 2009) *

Nir Felder Nir Felder (born Dec 30, 1982) is a Grammy-winning American jazz and session guitarist, composer, and music producer. In addition to leading his own band, Felder has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists across the jazz and popu ...

, ''Golden Age'' (Okeh, 2014) * Gilad Hekselman, ''Ask for Chaos'' (Motema, 2018) *

Derrick Hodge Derrick Hodge (born July 5, 1979) is a composer, musical director, bandleader, producer bassist and advocate. To date he has been awarded two Grammys, named a Sundance Composer Fellow, received a Motif Award; one of world's highest honors for ...

, ''Live Today'' (Blue Note, 2013) *

Lage Lund Lage Fosheim Lund (born 12 December 1977) is a Norwegian jazz guitarist. Early life and education Initially aspiring to become a professional skateboarder, Lund began playing guitar at the age of 13. He later founded a jazz trio and performing ...

, ''Foolhardy'' (Criss Cross, 2013) * Chris Morrissey, ''North Hero'' (Sunnyside, 2013) * Ferenc Nemeth, ''Night Songs'' (Dreamers Collective 2007) – recorded in 2005 *

Gretchen Parlato Gretchen Parlato (born February 11, 1976) is an American jazz singer. She has performed and recorded with musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Esperanza Spalding, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Miller and Lionel Loueke. ...

, ''In a Dream'' (ObliqSound, 2009) – recorded in 2008 *

, ''Star of Jupiter'' (Wommusic 2012) CD* Yeahwon Shin, ''Lua Ya'' (ECM, 2013) – recorded in 2012 *

Walter Smith III Walter Smith III (born September 24, 1980) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is the Chair of the Woodwind Department at the Berklee College of Music. In addition to performing with his own group, Smith is a member of the Ambros ...

, ''Casually Introducing'' (Fresh Sound, 2006) *

Ben Wendel Ben Wendel is a grammy nominated jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, and pianist who is a founding member of the band Kneebody. He has worked with Snoop Dogg, Ignacio Berroa, Daedelus, Taylor Eigsti, Gerald Clayton, and Tigran Hamasyan Career Wendel ...

, ''The Seasons'' (Motema, 2018) *

Dhafer Youssef Dhafer Youssef ( ar, ظافر يوسف; born 19 November 1967) is a Tunisian composer, singer and oud player. Biography Dhafer Youssef was born in Téboulba (a small village of coastal Tunisia); his grandfather was a muezzin. He calls the radio ...

, ''Diwan of Beauty and Odd'' (Okeh, 2016)

References

External links

Official site

Aaron Parks at NPR Music
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, Aaron 1983 births American jazz pianists American male pianists Living people Musicians from Seattle 21st-century American pianists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians