Partial List of Performing and Recording Credits
Elvin Jones, Cecil Taylor, Ray Brown, Vinnie Colaiuta, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Scott, Billy Higgins, Marian McPartland, Fela Kuti, George Coleman, Barry Harris, Marty Krystall, Buell Neidlinger, Rick Olson, Adam Holzman, Ted Hall.
Main Influences & Mentors
It was Cecil Taylor who called Hugh a “Tone Scientist,” as Taylor was fond of calling musicians whom he admired. Hugh’s playing with Cecil Taylor was somewhat inevitable, as Buell Neidlinger, Hugh’s principal musical mentor, began playing bass with Cecil Taylor at age 16. It came full circle in June of 1994 when Hugh was asked to play first trumpet in Cecil Taylor’s recording orchestra at Mills College in Oakland, CA.
Acclaim from Musicians and Critics
“…beautiful playing…” Max Roach
“The solos of trumpeter Demon Hugh Schick are startling. Schick plays with vigor and originality. Here is trumpet playing at its zenith.” Saxophone Journal, Tim Price
“…pianist extrordinaire…” Jerry Falka for L.A Jazz Scene
“Hugh Schick’s Bubber Miley-cum-Lester Bowie trumpet adds flavor.” Zan Stewart
“Special note of appreciation to the piano musings of Hugh Schick who knows his piano and how to make it sing!” Lee Prosser for JazzReview.com
Transcriptions
Hugh has transcribed some of the most important and difficult material in the jazz lexicon, originally under the encouragement and guidance of Buell Neidlinger. He has transcribed the lesser-known and little-played works of Thelonious Monk. Hugh was the first to transcribe much of the work of Herbie Nichols. He has also transcribed the music of Sun Ra from the late ’50s Saturn records catalog.
There is a Monk book circulating where Hugh did all of the original transcriptions for half the book, including all the hardest most obscure ones. Copies were leaked years ago back on the east coast and others later republished it.
Projects
Spherbie, with Dave DiMatteo, bass and Max Acosta-Rubio, drums, dedicated to the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk and Herbie Nichols.
Recordings
Recording on both trumpet and piano, Hugh appears on several albums. A complete discography is coming soon to this page.
Hugh appears on six albums on K2B2 Records. Visit the K2B2 website here for all the info.
This video is an excerpt of Hugh Schick on piano with Marty Krystall, tenor sax, Barry Saperstein, drums and Jack Bone, bass, playing Wildflower by Herbie Nichols.
Bands
Much to the chagrin of his jazz-snob colleagues, Hugh has always had a few fingers in the rock and roll pie. Visit the Bands page for more info.