Aaron Parks joins the faculty at the Institut Jazz

The Institut Jazz of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW welcomes pianist, composer, and educator Aaron Parks as a new Professor of Piano and Ensembles joining in fall 2026. 

Aaron Parks is known for a musical language that combines lyrical depth with openness and experimentation. Rooted in jazz and shaped by influences from ambient, electronic, folk, and contemporary music, his work moves naturally between composition, improvisation, and sound exploration. 

He first gained international attention through his work with Terence Blanchard and appeared on several acclaimed recordings, including the Grammy-winning A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina). Since the release of his Blue Note debut Invisible Cinema in 2008, Parks has developed a body of work that ranges from solo recordings and trio projects to the genre-crossing Little Big ensemble. His latest album, By All Means (2025), brings together longtime collaborators Ben Street and Billy Hart with tenor saxophonist Ben Solomon. 

Alongside his artistic work, teaching has long been an important part of Parks’s practice. He taught piano at Manhattan School of Music from 2022 to 2024 and previously worked with students at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. He regularly gives workshops and masterclasses internationally. 

At the Institut Jazz, Aaron Parks will bring his experience as both performer and educator into direct exchange with students and the wider community. We look forward to the musical encounters and creative conversations that will emerge from this collaboration.