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John Hicks – After The Morning LP 1st Press 1979 Very Rare Jazz Piano Trio Archival Sleeve Play Tested This is one of my favorite Piano Trio session
After the Morning is the debut release by American pianist  recorded in 1979 and released on the  label. Two earlier sessions led by Hicks were released on  following this album  awarded the album 4½ stars stating "This first album is a real keeper. Great piano playing throughout.

John Josephus Hicks Jr. (December 21, 1941 – May 10, 2006) was an American  pianist, composer, and arranger. He was leader of more than 30 recordings and played as a sideman on more than 300.

After early experiences backing blues musicians, Hicks moved to New York in 1963. He was part of 's band for two years, accompanied vocalist from 1965 to 1967, before joining 's big band, where he stayed until 1970. Following these associations, Hicks expanded into  bands, including those of trumpeters  and . He rejoined Carter in 1975; the five-year stay brought him more attention and helped to launch his recording career as a leader. He continued to play and record extensively in the United States and internationally. Under his own leadership, his recordings were mostly -influenced, while those for other leaders continued to be in a diversity of styles, including multi-year associations with saxophonists , , , and .

In New York, Hicks first accompanied singer . He then played with  and toured with trombonist and tenor saxophonist . In 1963 he was also part of saxophonist ' first band, and appeared on  backing vocalist . After periods with  and , Hicks joined 's Jazz Messengers in 1964. His recording debut was with Blakey in November that year on the album .Early in 1965, Hicks toured with Blakey to Japan, France, Switzerland, and England. Blakey encouraged his band members, including Hicks, to compose for the band, although they also played compositions by previous members of the band. He stayed with Blakey for two years, during which time his playing was compared with that of , for the level of energy displayed and for some of the  that they used.

In the period 1965 to 1967, Hicks worked on and off with vocalist ; her liking for slow ballads helped him develop his sense of time. He then joined 's big band, where he stayed until 1970, playing as well as writing arrangements for the band. Hicks also began recording as a sideman with a wide range of leaders – in the 1960s these included , , and  – a trend that continued for the remainder of his career. From 1972 to 1973, Hicks taught jazz history and improvisation at . From the 1970s, he also played in more avant garde bands, beginning with recordings led by  and performances and recordings in the Netherlands with . He played with Blakey again in 1973. Hicks' debut recording as leader was on May 21, 1975, in England. The session resulted in two albums – the trio , with bassist  and drummer Cliff Barbaro, and the solo piano  – that were released by  several years later.

Hicks reunited with Carter in 1975, including accompanying her in a musical play, Don't Call Me Man, that year. After recording with Carter on her  in 1976, Hicks returned to her band full-time; this raised his profile and led to his own recording – . His sideman recording also continued, including with  (1978) and  (1978–79).