Pianist Pamela Hines at the Brown Bag

By Chet Williamson

In 1990, pianist Pamela Hines was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, a form of cancer that attacks the body's ability to fight infection. The illness not only did a number on her health, it had an unexpected side effect.

"I felt the issue of mortality," she says. "That's one thing that I've taken with me all these years. I felt like, 'You'd better be doing what your heart is telling you to do, because if you're not, you're going to be unhappy anyway.'"

As a child growing up in Acton, Hines studied classically with a local teacher, but her heart was in improvisational music. "I think I was a little bit of a freak as a kid," she says. "In the seventh grade I did a book report on Judy Garland and started listening to her music. That caused me to listen to the AM Big Band radio stations and it evolved from there."

Hines says she began a concerted effort to follow her bliss while in recovery.

"I went to recover in Virginia and studied with a jazz teacher there. From there I got the bug. I started listening, studying and practicing for long periods every day. That's what really brought it along."

Returning to New England, the pianist continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, receiving a master's degree in music with academic honors. While at the school she studied with Paul Bley, Danilo Perez and George Russell. She also took lessons on the side with the legendary Charlie Banacos.

Pamela Hines

Since graduating, Hines has released a series of albums under her own name featuring such heavyweights as Jerry Bergonzi, Miles Donahue and Bob Moses. She also appears on numerous other recordings in a supporting role. Of the many highlights in her distinguished career is a guest spot on "Piano Jazz" with Marian McPartland.

Hines makes her first public Worcester appearance with bassist Greg Loughman and drummer Bob Guilotti at Mechanics Hall next Wednesday, March 19 at noon as part of WICN's Brown Bag Concert Series. Last April she played live in the studios of the station, advancing her latest disc, Return (Spicerack).

The last time Hines visited Mechanics Hall was to see a concert with singer Ella Fitzgerald and guitarist Joe Pass in the early 1980s. "I had a front-row seat," she says, laughing. "That was pretty amazing. And being an audience member in that hall, it looked so astounding. I can't imagine being on the stage. It's going to be great. I'm looking forward to it."

Hines, who cites Russell as one of her favorite pianists, says she will mostly play tunes from the new release and originals. "Our general style is mainstream, but I like to run outside the box and come back inside. It's a little more eclectic because we run around outside and do segments of free jazz, but overall it's mainstream."

In 1998, the year Hines graduated from NEC, she released 9-45 on Brownstone Records, a Worcester-based label owned by Jack Wertheimer. The album received critical acclaim nationally. In his Cadence Magazine review, Robert Iannapollo wrote, "Her piano style is melodically based with full, rich chords, but there is also an angularity that keeps her improvisations unpredictable." Jazz critic Scott Yanow noted that, "with any luck, she should have an important career in jazz."

Luck being the residue of design, Hines has had an important life in the music because she puts in the time, but as she readily admits, it hasn't been easy. "If you choose jazz — or any kind of performance medium where there are not a lot of venues but a lot of musicians — you really have to love it. Find out more at www.pamelahines.com. o