Aaron Parks is a textbook wunderkind -- started at the University of Washington at 14, transfered to the Manhattan School of Music to study with Kenny Barron at 16, began touring with Terrance Blanchard at 19. Now, at the ripe old age of 22, he's grown into a mature voice at the piano. He spurns the kind of young lion clichés you might expect from someone with his pedigree, playing with more substance than flash. He takes a reflective, compositional approach to the instrument, often coming at the music from initially unexpected angles (e.g., Mike Garson playing Coltrane changes?) that, in retrospect, feel just right.
Tonight, he brings his quintet to the Jazz Gallery, including John Ellis (reeds), Lage Lund (guitar), Derrick Hodge (bass) and Jochen Rueckert (drums). Sets at 9 PM and 10:30 PM - $12.
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