Harry Pickens

Bio:
Harry Pickens is a pianist, composer, teacher, organizational consultant and engaged citizen. His inspiring and unique recordings, concerts and workshops have touched the lives of over 250,000 people over the past 25 years.

Harry was born in the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia and currently lives in Louisville Kentucky. A modern-day Renaissance man, Harry has integrated his many interests and talents into a unique and multifaceted career.

Pianist:
His international career as a jazz pianist has taken him to 17 countries throughout Europe, Japan, and the Americas, collaborating with many top names in the jazz field –Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, Milt Jackson (Modern Jazz Quartet), Don Braden (musical director for the Cosby show), Bob Hurst (bassist for the Tonight Show) and hundreds of others. Performance credits include recordings on the Blue Note label, international radio and television appearances (including Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz), and engagements in top concert and club venues worldwide.

Educator/Consultant:
Classroom teacher on elementary, middle, and high school and collegiate levels; Seminar leader seminars and workshops on Leadership, Personal Mastery, Communication, and Social Artistry throughout the US; and created/promoted community-wide celebrations that tap the power of the arts to inspire positive social change. He is a featured artist in the Kentucky Educational Television Arts Toolkit used by thousands of teachers across Kentucky. Organizations he has served include Metro United Way, Kentucky Community And Technical College System, Center For Non-Profit Excellence, Louisville Regional Airport Authority, Seven Counties Services, Metro United Way, University Of Louisville College of Business and Public Administration, YUM! Brands, Inc., AEGON Financial, Leadership Louisville Center, Kentucky Association Of Developmental Education, Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, Kentucky Governor’s School For The Arts, Kentucky Music Educators Conference, Kentucky Music Teachers Association, Kentucky Opera Visions Program. Kentucky Public Health Association, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Kentucky School Boards Association Conference, and more. He currently presents over 100 keynote addresses, concert performances, and workshops annually for individuals and organizations in business, government, education, and the arts.

Conference speaker:
Mr. Pickens is accomplished conference speaker whose insights have been shared with a wide range of audiences, organizations, and congregations, including the American Association Of Pastoral Counselors, Center For Faith And Action, Center For Interfaith Relations, the Center For Nonprofit Excellence and the American Association For Music Therapy. Mr. Pickens was selected to deliver the annual Edwards Peacemaking Lecture at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the annual Laws Peacemaking Lecture at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Indiana.

Composer:
This area of Mr. Pickens’ musical talent is devoted to creating works that increase public awareness regarding critical social issues, and celebrate the promise and possibility of a world that works for all. His original compositions draw on a diverse and extensive musical background encompassing classical, jazz, popular, and world music genres. He has composed theme songs for the Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference, Kentucky Developmental Education Association, Kentucky Child Now (a nonprofit association serving the children of Kentucky), and the Center For Interfaith Relations. He is the composer of We Are All America, the anthem for all Americans, The People Want Peace, and over 40 more songs that will be included in the Sing The World To Peace™ songbook (scheduled for publication Spring 2010). He has also been selected as Artist/Composer-in-Residence for the acclaimed choral ensemble Voces Novae for the 2007-2008 season.

Contemplative Music and Worship Leadership:
Mr. Pickens dedicates much of his performance career to bringing forth music that assists the listener in connecting deeply with the Divine Source. He offers ongoing ‘concerts for contemplation’ in his adopted hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. He has created and recorded over 200 musical ‘portraits’ created spontaneously for individuals, which tangibly and powerfully demonstrate the spiritual beauty indwelling us all. He has served as worship leader and musical director for many national and regional spiritual conferences and gatherings, including spiritual teacher Ron Roth’s Healing Prayer Intensives and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Annual Conference. Mr. Pickens musical and conference weaving gifts have also served the American Association Of Pastoral Counselors, the Earth Spirit Rising Conference, and many churches, synagogues, and other spiritual communities throughout the nation.

Awards:
Recipient of multiple awards and honors, including the 2007 Community Arts Award (Arts Council of Louisville), the Center For Conflict Resolution Peacemaker Award (2005), LEO Reader’s Choice Best Jazz Band award (2005), and the Plymouth Lighthouse Award (2007). He is also featured in the 2008 Fund For The Arts ‘The Arts Is A Big Deal’ Video, which will be viewed by over 1 million Jefferson County residents.

Collaborators:
Performances with hundreds of the world’s top jazz artists, including: John Abercrombie, Eric Alexander, David Baker, Keter Betts, Art Blakey, Terrance Blanchard, Don Braden, Avery Brooks, Conte Candoli , Pete Candoli , Ron Carter, Jerry Coker, Buddy Collette, Todd Coolman, Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, Lou Donaldson, Ted Dunbar, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Yve Evans, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Ricky Ford, Chico Freeman, Curtis Fuller, Kenny Garrett, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Marshall Hawkins, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Joe Henderson, Billy Higgins, Freddie Hubbard, Robert Hurst, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Herb Jeffreys, Clifford Jordan, Dave Leibman, Marian McPartland, Defayeo Marsalis, Cecil McBee, Jackie McLean, Charles McPherson, James Moody, Lewis Nash, Jack Petersen, Ralph Peterson, Marcus Printup, Rufus Reid, Wallace Roney, Lynn Seaton, Bobby Shew, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, James Spaulding, Byron Stripling, Steve Turre, Freddie Waits, Kenny Washington, Bobby Watson, Sherry Williams, and Phil Woods.