John Ricci
Jacksonville, Florida, United States | SELF
Music
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JAZZCHICAGO.NET
Review by Brad Walseth
Tenor saxophonist John Ricci lists Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Mark Turner, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and Ben Webster as his biggest saxophone influences, and this impressive group of Jazz royalty is certainly to be found as elements in this young player’s sound. Ricci studied with Jerry Coker and former Jazz Messenger Donald Brown, who he considers a mentor. He later taught at Florida State University and the University of North Florida as an assistant professor assisting Bunky Green, and is now the Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville University. The saxophonist/composer has played and recorded with people like Marcus Printup, Angel Roman and Rebecca Zapen, performs at festivals and clubs and has won numerous awards. "Holding Time" is Ricci’s entertaining debut release and features four original compositions as well as two standards.
Recorded live with no overdubs, "Holding Time" showcases Ricci’s impressive mastery of his horn and his well-schooled compositional ability. Backed by a trio of UNF Jazz Program grads: pianist Joshua Bowlus, bassist Billy Thornton and drummer Peter Miles, the overall feel is very traditional straight-ahead, but with modern harmonic touches. The quartet are obviously comfortable with each other and play with a joyous abandon that makes for enjoyable listening.
"Mode Time" opens things up swinging hard and showcases Ricci, sweet and melodic, even while burning (I especially love his unexpected "held" notes), over a rhythm section that charges ahead unstoppably. Bowlus also adds a savory solo on this fun tune. Proving he can write (and play!) the ballads as well. "Ballerina" is a lovely slow waltz with a memorable melodic theme. Pianist Bowlus is given a rewarding spotlight turn, and Ricci’s sensitive work entirely avoid the maudlin cliches that often mar ballad work. Instead his lines rise and drift gracefully and are worth revisiting to cherish their intricacies. Meanwhile, the swinging version of the Van Huesen/Burke chestnut "Here’s That Rainy Day" is one of the highlights, with a nice bass solo, solid drum work and some of Ricci’s hottest playing.
The original title track shows Ricci taking the traditional and successfully bending it into a modern harmonic direction, while "Slow Tango" is a nod to the artist’s Argentinean cultural roots that is sultry and shimmering. The album ends on a high note with the delightful Ben Webster tune, "Bounce Blues." Ricci kills on this tune that will have even the most undemonstrative listener head bopping and toe tapping. "Holding Time" is an impressive debut from a young saxophonist/composer whom I hope we hear much more from in the future.
- JazzChicago.net
AllAboutJazz.com
Review of Holding Time
-by John Barron
Saxophonist/educator John Ricci comes out swinging for his debut recording Holding Time. The Jacksonville University Professor of Jazz Studies combines original compositions and arrangements of standards for an intriguing set of mainstream jazz.
The disc opens in vigorous fashion with the up-tempo "Mode Time," a perfect minor key workout for Ricci's robust tenor tone. The saxophonist weaves together a tight-knit solo, heavy on thematic development. Pianist Joshua Bowlus follows Ricci with a sweltering solo turn. The mood is lightened somewhat on the floating waltz "Ballerina." Here, Ricci is able to comfortably display his edgy, vibrato-laden phrasing, which straddles traditional swinging ideals and contemporary influences.
The relatively straight reading of "Here's That Rainy Day," done as a quasi-samba, has accessible leanings and features a stand-out solo by bassist Billy Thornton. Ricci's full sweep of his horn's range, emphasizing his extensive bop vocabulary, is impressive.
The bouncy title track swings with a deep pocket courtesy of Thornton and drummer Peter Miles. The hard-swinging momentum sets up inspired solo turns by Bowlus and Ricci. The haunting lyricism of "Slow Tango" contrasts nicely with the down and dirty blues of Ben Webster's "Bounce Blues," the session closer. The latter reveals the influence of not only the tune's composer, but of modern interpreters like Branford Marsalis.
Ricci is a convincing voice in the increasingly overcrowded world of jazz saxophone. His integrity and passion toward the advancement of his musical vision is evident throughout. - AllAboutJazz.com
Discography
John Ricci, Holding Time - 2007
Sideman:
Rebecca Zapen - Hummingbird - 2003
Sideman and arranger:
Angel Roman and Mambo Blue - Con Fuego - 2003
Photos
Bio
"When you play, your music must groove enough to make your soul dance. When you play, your music must groove enough to make everyone's soul dance with yours." Paraphrased from the great pianist and mentor Donald Brown who John Ricci quoted on his debut jazz quartet CD release: Holding Time.
Combining the culture of his Argentine roots and background in a musical family with a deep study of saxophone influences such as John Coltrane, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Michael Brecker, Branford Marsalis and Mark Turner, John Ricci draws together soulful, hard swinging and harmonically modern and rhythmically diverse elements to his compositions and arrangements.
Having studied to dedicate himself as a top performer and educator, John's mentoring has been quite balanced with the likes of renown tenor saxophonist and jazz leader Jerry Coker and world class pianist, composer and former Blakey Messenger Donald Brown.
John has been performing regularly as a side man and a leader on various projects for more than 15 years, made it ideal for him to finally break out with his own new project that demonstrates his creativity, passion and seasoned refinement in with his own original works and arrangements. Surrounding himself with some of the very finest, experienced and most musically communicative side men in the southeast, it's no doubt why John's new quartet project Holding Time can excite the most dedicated and progressive jazz listeners as well as the uninitiated:
"Holding Time showcases Ricci's impressive mastery of his horn and his well-schooled compositional ability….will have even the most undemonstrative listener head bopping and toe tapping. Holding Time is an impressive debut from a young saxophonist/composer whom I hope we hear much more from in the future.”
--Brad Walseth, jazzchicago.net
While attending Florida State University School of Music earning a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies under a teaching assistantship, he's performed with Marcus Printup, performed at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and has received many awards including the 1995 Combo Division of Down Beat Collegiate Music Competition. And just recently, in January 2009, Mode Time (the first track on his CD Holding Time) placed him as the winner in the jazz song category of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards by an esteemed judges panel that included the likes of John Patutucci and Paquito DiRivera.
John has performed with internationally known recording artists and in numerous clubs and festivals including Chijazz Festival in Singapore, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the North East Florida Jazz Association, Savannah Jazz Festival as well as with his long time mentor pianist/composer Donald Brown and trumpeter Stephane Belmondo in a feature performance for the inaugural (and now very noteworthy) annual Knoxville Jazz Festival.
John has taught at the University of North Florida, and is currently the Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL. He performs regularly for festivals and club bookings with his quartet.
Recent News:
8th Annual Program – Jazz Song IMA Winner & Vox Populi Winner with Mode Time.
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