Mercedes-Benz JAZZ MASTER SERIES

 

From an early age, it was clear that award-winning pianist Aaron Parks (born in California in 1983 and raised in Seattle) was headed for great things. At 15, he was selected to participate in the GRAMMY Jazz Band in Los Angeles, which inspired his move to New York at age 16 to attend the Manhattan School of Music.

 

 

In 2001, at 18, he was invited to join trumpeter Terence Blanchard's band and also earned the title of Cole Porter Fellow from the American Pianists Association (First Prize in their triennial jazz competition). Parks appeared on three Blue Note albums by Blanchard before making his own debut with 2008's "Invisible Cinema."

 

The BBC declared it “one of the great albums of 2008.” JazzTimes hailed him as "a new visionary," while All Music Guide said "this is the sound of an improvising artist that has arrived fully formed. " The Guardian has lauded Parks’ “independent vision,” calling him a “fast-rising star.”