Hod O'Brien
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Biography
Walter Howard "Hod" O'Brien (January 19, 1936 â November 20, 2016) was an American jazz pianist.
O'Brien was born in Chicago. He attended the Hotchkiss School and then studied at the Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music (1954â1957). He began playing professionally in 1950, and substituted for Randy Weston in 1955. He led his own group in Lenox, Massachusetts during 1956â57, then joined Oscar Pettiford in 1957â58, and J.R. Monterose/Elvin Jones in 1958â59. Between 1960 and 1963, he played with Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Rouse, and Lee Konitz. In 1964, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he studied mathematics and psychology, achieving his bachelor's degree in 1969; he then took a position in computer programming at New York University during 1969â1974, and studied computer music under Hall Overton and Charles Wuorinen. O'Brien ran the St. James Infirmary jazz club in New York City in 1974â75, and played in the house band alongside Beaver Harris and Cameron Brown; this group accompanied Roswell Rudd, Sheila Jordan, Chet Baker, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Pepper Adams, and Archie Shepp, among others. He played with Marshall Brown (1975), Russell Procope and Sonny Greer (1977), Joe Puma (1977â1982, at Gregory's in New York City), and Stephanie Nakasian (1982). He later married Nakasian. (Their daughter is singer Veronica Swift.) He taught at Turtle Bay Music School 1972â1975, and in the 1990s at the University of Virginia. Hod O'Brien continued playing actively while he underwent treatment for cancer. He died at the age of 80 on November 20, 2016.
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Albums
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- Track Popularity
- Yardbird Suite by Kenny Washington
- Snibor
- How About You
- Little Niles
- Pent-Up House
- There's No You by Kenny Washington
- up in Quincy's Room by Kenny Washington
- You & The Night & The Music by Kenny Washington
- Nathalie by Kenny Washington
- Willow Weep for Me by Kenny Washington
- Summer Night by Kenny Washington
- Ridin' High by Kenny Washington
- Portrait of Stephanie by Kenny Washington
- Joop's Lope by Kenny Washington
- Bits and Pieces
- Love Letters
- In a Sentimental Mood
- Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me/Take the "A" Train
- Opalessence
- Touchstone
- Joy Road
- A Handful of Dust
- The Blues Walk
- Detour Ahead
