Piano and keyboards: Aaron Parks

Pianist Aaron Parks is a forward-thinking jazz musician who came to the public’s attention during his time with trumpeter Terence Blanchard. Besides playing with Blanchard, Parks has performed with a variety of artists including trumpeter Christian Scott, drummer Kendrick Scott, vocalist Gretchen Parlato, and others. Parks has released several albums under his own name, including his 2008 Blue Note debut, Invisible Cinema. Parks, who has also recorded with Christian Scott, Kendrick Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, was an integral part of the James Farm Quartet with Joshua Redman, Matt Penman, and Eric Harland. The pianist subsequently signed to ECM and released the solo piano offering Arborescence in the fall of 2013. He toured and recorded with his piano trios featuring  Thomas Morgan and RJ Miller and Ben Street and Billy Hart. He is also the protagonist of the critically acclaimed ensemble Little Big.