Indianapolis Audit Manager, Dan Hicks, along with his trio Northside Exchange, had the esteemed honor of opening for the Branford Marsalis Quartet at The Center for the Performing Arts on January 26, 2024.
"It was everything I hoped it would be," Dan said, grinning, as we talked about what it was like to open for someone whom he considers a jazz celebrity and personal idol.
He shared that the highlight of the show was getting to be social with the headlining musicians, especially Grammy winner Marsalis himself.
“He offered us advice, and we just talked about music and life," said Dan. "The whole thing felt like I was on a high, so to speak.”
Dan’s trio opened the show with jazz classics, such as Miles Davis’s “Four,” Don Grolnick’s “Nothing Personal,” and Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer’s “Days of Wine and Roses.” They played multiple original songs as well, including Dan’s own “Step Back,” which is inspired by the Indiana Pacers.
Growing up in Westfield, Indiana, Dan began playing the piano at age nine. His passion for the instrument would grow through the years, eventually landing him a partial arts scholarship to Franklin College.
"Since college, I've been doing this semiprofessionally," he said.
Playing cocktail parties and events, Dan’s reputation snowballed after graduation, and he found himself booking gigs regularly with a few of the same local musicians. He soon would see that forming a group of his own would continue opening doors for him in the local music scene.
Playing with Dan in Northside Exchange are Darnell Perkins and Joseph Filipow, two musicians he met while working on shows around town.
“We saw that we were the common denominators of these shows, and we played together really well.”
Since 2021, the trio has become well-known in the Indianapolis area, co-headlining the Carmel Jazz Festival in 2023 and being featured on Fox 59’s Indy Now.
Dan describes music as both an artistic endeavor to express himself and a way to serve the local community.
“I think it scratches the same itch that I have for client service. There is a big artistic component to it, but at the same time, there's a service component to it. Ultimately, making people feel good,” he explained.
“I actually get asked a lot if there is a connection between accounting and music. I always say yes. When you think about music in scientific terms, there is a huge connection. There is a lot of math and science involved in music. I was very interested in music theory growing up, and it shows that there are common elements happening in the background of any complex piece.”
When asked what he would say to professionals who want to pursue an artistic endeavor outside of their jobs, Dan had some words of wisdom to offer.
"I would say, like all else, if you put in the work, and you are doing something that's fulfilling to yourself, ultimately, you are succeeding. Whether that's playing piano for your family, or playing a Jazz Festival, when you create art, you're doing something for yourself."