Stanley Crouch on John Hicks

Many jazz enthusiasts, critics and musicians, yr. humble editor included, disagree with Stanley Crouch on matters of politics, music and aesthetics. Even so, when he gets something right, it seems only fair to acknowledge that, too. Crouch's tribute to the late John Hicks, published Thursday in his column in the New York Daily News, is sincere and moving:

"Hicks was not well-known to the general public because he was not a star. Hardly any jazz musicians are. But he was immeasurably important. Hicks symbolized the discipline, grace, fire and compassion of the art. This was true not only of his work, but of his very being; whenever Hicks entered a room, the deepest meanings of jazz entered with him."

Read the whole thing here.