Aaron Parks

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Aaron Parks
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Origin = Seattle, Washington
Instrument = Piano
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Occupation = Musician
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Label = Blue Note Records
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Aaron Parks (b. October 7, 1983 in Seattle, WA) is a jazz pianist.

Personal

Aaron entered the University of Washington 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 at the age of 16 to the Manhattan School of Music. During his final year he began touring with Terence Blanchard's band, recording three albums with him for Blue Note Records, including the Grammy-winning "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)." [ [http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_show/list.aspx GRAMMY.com ] ] He currently tours with Kurt Rosenwinkel and has recently been signed by Blue Note Records.

Aaron can be heard on the soundtracks to Their Eyes Were Watching God and Spike Lee films including Inside Man, She Hate Me, and When the Levees Broke.

Aaron is a Yamaha Performing Artist. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Awards

*Jas Hennessy Piano Solo Competition at Montreux (Third Place)
*Cole Porter Fellow of the American Pianists Association (First Place)
*Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition (Third Place)

Discography

*"The Promise" (1999)
*"First Romance" (2000)
*"The Wizard" (2001)
*"Shadows" (2002)
*"Invisible Cinema" (2008)

As a Sideman

*"Bounce" (2003) - Terence Blanchard
*"Flow" (2005) - Terence Blanchard
*"On My Way Back Home" (2005) - Daisuke Abe
*"Short Songs (EP)" (2006) - Amanda Baisinger
*"Casually Introducing Walter Smith III" (2006) - Walter Smith III
*"Lucid Dream" (2006) - Patrick Cornelius
*"A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)" (2007) - Terence Blanchard
*"Night Songs" (2007) - Ferenc Nemeth
*"Between the Lines" (2007) - Mike Moreno
*"The Source" (2007) - Kendrick Scott
*"Anthem" (2007) - Christian Scott
*"Catch of the Day" (2008) - Matt Penman
*"Prelude ... to: Cora" (2008) - Ambrose Akinmusire
*"Promises" (2008) - Will Vinson

References

External links

* http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=71196347 - 147k -
* http://bluenote.com/MainNewsDetail.aspx?newsId=11271&promoId=690 - 147k -
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93732636 Aaron Parks at NPR Music]