“From big band, to swing, to bebop, to original music, Rick’s knowledge of and expertise in playing many jazz styles enables him to always passionately and tastefully serve the music and the artists with whom he shares the stage.
“More importantly, he’s there for the music first — not for himself. For me, this is the most desirable and admirable trait of any performer; and precisely what elevates Rick to the level of a true artist.” ~ Vocalist Wendy Hayes
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Rick listened to all the big bands growing up. “Of course I knew all the top 40 stuff of the 60s and early 70s and loved the Tijuana Brass, but Basie, Ellington, Goodman and Herman really sounded great! At age 12, my drum teacher gave me a Buddy Rich album that changed my life. I knew there had to be more to drumming than just what I’d heard the early swing players doing, and Buddy was just that! I also heard a lot of combo recordings, but did not realize till later they were jazz legends; people like Miles, MJQ, JJ Johnson, Brubeck — records my dad would bring home. Later it was young Tony Williams that turned my head, plus many others: Grady Tate, Ed Thigpen, Joe Morello, Frankie Dunlop, Mel Lewis, Shelly Mann.”
Just days after high school graduation in 1973, Rick drove to the Boone area to play golf. “I thought I wanted to be a teaching pro. That first week, a jazz pianist hired me and I never went back home. A year later, I started school at Appalachian State University and graduated with a degree in Music Industry Studies.”
“I had the opportunity to play with real jazz professionals when I was about 19 — piano and bass. That first time, I felt the beauty of a walking bass line with jazz piano voicing over my cymbal and couldn’t sleep for a long time after that!” Since then, Rick has performed professionally with the likes of Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Ernie Watts, Joe Temperly, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Margarette Whiting, Billy Taylor, and the Unifour Jazz Big Band. Having relocated to Asheville in 2011, his main focus performing these days is with the Todd Wright Quartet, the Asheville Jazz Orchestra and with Wendy Hayes. Rick is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Jazz Department at ASU.
“Herb Ellis played tunes faster than anyone I’ve ever worked with. He would lean back in his chair, lift one leg and rip off these long lines and I kept thinking the chair would tip over backwards. Once Ernie Watts called for an up tempo Latin piece, which I’d told him was not my strong suit, and then turned to me, ‘Just you and me up front.’ It turned out fine. He taught me something that night — don’t shy away from your weaknesses!”
He added, “I did a performance at the Brevard Music Center one summer with the Unifour Jazz Ensemble, an eighteen piece big band. Our special guest that night was the legendary drummer Louie Bellson. I set up my drums beside Louie’s and played the first half of the concert. Louie came out and did the second half. The crowd wanted an encore so Louie got on the microphone and to my surprise, asked me to come out and play the tune with him and announced we’d have a drum battle! The band launched into “In a Mellow Tone” and half way through the chart, the band stopped and it was just Louie and me, trading licks. He was very kind as he could have blown me away with his unbelievable chops. It was one of the musical highlights of my life!”
“Everybody wants to work with ‘Mr. Tasty’. He listens and supports the soloist like none other and loves to swing! He does everything you want without you having to ask. Rick is the consummate drummer, plus an incredibly fine human being!” ~ Saxophonist Todd Wright
