Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Seven


Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Seven is an album of solo performances by jazz pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1990.The album was the seventh of 42 piano recitals recorded at the hall and released on Concord.

Music and recording

The album was recorded in August 1990 at the Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California. Hicks reported that, for the performance, "I wanted to do some more standard compositions. Playing solo gives me a chance to extend my repertoire and play some songs I don't normally play in a group setting", and "I arrived with a list of songs I wanted to do. But once I started, I picked songs based on the feeling I got from the audience."

Release and reception

It was released by Concord Records. The AllMusic reviewer concluded that, "Though not a consistently inspired concert, there are several stretches of truly breathtaking piano playing here, beautifully recorded as usual." The Chicago Tribune commented that "There is a density to John Hicks' solo piano that is rarely apparent in his performances behind others. At times it seems as muscular and lush as McCoy Tyner."

Track listing

  1. "Blue in Green" – 5:45
  2. "All of You" – 4:58
  3. "After the Rain" – 5:36
  4. "Speak Low" – 4:58
  5. "Blues for Maybeck Recital Hall" – 4:34
  6. "Heroes" – 5:37
  7. "Rhythm-a-Ning" – 3:37
  8. "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" – 7:58
  9. "Oblivion" – 3:35
  10. "Contemplation" – 5:30
  11. "Straighten Up and Fly Right" – 3:41

    Personnel