Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook

Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook
Studio album by John Hicks
Released	October 20, 1998
Recorded	June 17, 1997
Studio	Audiomation Studio (Pittsburgh, PA)
Genre	Jazz
Length	65:57
Label	HighNote HCD 7019
Producer	Cecil Brooks III
John Hicks chronology
Newklear Music (1997) Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook (1998) Nightwind: An Erroll Garner Songbook (1997)

Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook is an album by the pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1997 and released on the HighNote label.^[1] The album contains ten compositions by Billy Strayhorn, along with two by Hicks.

Reception

AllMusic wrote that Hicks "shows his softer side here, tackling the lush romanticism of Strayhorn's timeless compositions with an appropriately light touch and sense of nuance".^[2] JazzTimes called it "a fine stroll through familiar Strayhorn terrain that pays substantial dividends".^[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Billy Strayhorn except as indicated

1. "Something to Live For" (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn) - 5:44
2. "Day Dream" (Ellington, Strayhorn John La Touche) - 6:40
3. "Medley: Lotus/Blossom" - 4:08
4. "Blood Count" - 6:59
5. "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing" - 3:07
6. "Chelsea Bridge" - 6:10
7. "Lush Life" - 6:05
8. "U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)" - 5:30
9. "Minor Blues" (John Hicks) - 4:33
10. "Passion Flower" - 6:42
11. "Satin Doll" (Ellington, Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer) - 5:23
12. "Summary" (Hicks) - 4:56

Personnel

• John Hicks - piano
• Dwayne Dolphin - bass
• Cecil Brooks III - drums

Production

• Cecil Brooks III - producer
• Dino DeStefano - engineer

References

1. John Hicks discography accessed February 25, 2015
2. Roberts, J., AllMusic Review, accessed February 25, 2015
3. Jenkins, W., JazzTimes Review, December 1999
4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 700. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.