John Hicks was an integral part of the jazz community. On Sunday, June 4th his memorial will take place at St. Peter's Church on 53rd and Lexington Avenue in NYC. Another wonderful New York pianist, Hilton Ruiz is in a coma after a fall in New Orleans. Lois Gilbert, Managing Director of Jazzcorner.com thought what if the jazz community worldwide could honor John Hicks' memory by dimming the lights in the jazz clubs with a moment of silence for John Hicks and healing thoughts for Hilton Ruiz. And clubs have picked up on the idea: major venues like Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, The Iridium, The Village Vanguard all in New York City and Yoshi's and Jazz at Pearl's in the San Francisco Bay Area will be honoring these 2 artists on Sunday night 9:00 local time, and radio stations will be playing hour music by John Hicks and Hilton Ruiz. Gilbert says, “They do it on Broadway, why can't we do it on our community."

A Benefit JAM SESSION for Pianist Hilton Ruiz" will take place Tuesday June 6, 2006 @ 6 p.m.--12 midnight. Doors Open @ 5 p.m. LQ's 511 Lexington Avenue (between 48th & 49th Streets) in New York.

This is the beginning of a new tradition... Bringing the jazz community a little closer together!

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