Originally from Milwaukee, Rick Germanson is a highly in-demand jazz pianist throughout the New York City since he moved there in 1998 after winning the Grand Prize in the American Pianist Association Jazz Piano Competition in 1996.
He has performed with: Louis Hayes, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Ralph Peterson, Mickey Roker; Frank Morgan, Vincent Herring, Donald Harrison, Gary Bartz; Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Henderson, Tom Harrell, Brian Lynch, Jeremy Pelt, Jim Rotondi, Marlena Shaw, Carla Cook, Carolyn Leonhart, Kevin Mahogany, Jimmy Heath, Charles Davis, Eric Alexander, Craig Handy, Joe Locke; Slide Hampton, Frank Lacy, Steve Davis, and The Mingus Big Band. Rick has toured throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Central America, Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil and Spain.
The recording debut of Rick Germanson as a leader "HEIGHTS" (Fresh Sound) 2003 features five of Rick's compositions as well as three fresh arrangements of jazz standards. Featuring Brian Lynch on trumpet, John Webber on bass, George Fludas on drums and Luis Diaz on congas and other percussion, these young veterans present hot latin jazz and swinging hard bop. Reviewing this CD, JazzTimes said:
He [Germanson] is blessed by tons of technique, taste and a clarity of right-hand runs, an appreciation for complex rhythms and a love for Latin. (Check all those blessings out on "Tune Up".) He can handle supersonic speeds ("Lover"); write a love poem in 3/4, with "Susan's Waltz"; cleverly disguise "I'll Remember April" as "April Mambo"; and show writing chops as well as montuno moments during his "Game Theory" with the help of very supportive friends ...
Catch Rick Germanson at the Artists' Quarter in Saint Paul, MN on October 8th and 9th 9:00 PM. |