Rick Parma
Gig Seeker Pro

Rick Parma

Los Angeles, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | SELF

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2005
Band Jazz R&B

Calendar

Music

Press


"KUMD up in Duluth, MN"

we dig the new disc here at 100,000 watt KUMD up in Duluth, MN. "Just Gettin' Started" will be getting 2-3 spins a week during jazz shows, and
during our eclectic mix as well. - John Ziegler


"ABYSSJazz Magazine (Jan 2, 2006)"

You really did an awesome job on your new CD
- Rachelle Bivins


"RadioandRecords.com"

What a terrific way to begin the New Year: saxophonist Rick Parma's uptempo "Gotta Keep Movin'"(SaxmanRick) - Carol Archer


"JazzDimension.com"

Saxaphonist, Rick Parma. "Just Gettin' Started". I'd say, he's off to a smooth start, and "That's The Way Things Gotta Be". - John Marcus


Discography

PIECE OF HEAVEN - REVIEWS

“Best when you want a peaceful, soothing, tranquil musical catalogue to delicately slip into your soul” - MusicEmissions.com

“Simply put – Rick Parma is awe-inspiring” - GigBand.com “It just makes things feel——-better.” - AllWhatsRock.com

“All the elements that make a fantastic smooth jazz record.” -

IndieShark.com 

Photos

Bio

 Hailing from Chicago, Rick Parma is a talented performer who set out to embrace the spirit, vivacity and charm of his town, notoriously hailed as home of one of the liveliest music scenes on the planet. Rick managed to thrive and develop his talent within such a colorful and productive environment, particularly focusing on his saxophone playing, singing and showmanship.

Rick Parma approaches his instrument in a unique, personal and charismatic way, bridging the gaps between genres the likes of Jazz, RnB, Funk, Latin, Blues and rock, with an open mind and with an eclectic attitude. The Chicago sound is known all over the world for being a true catalyst, a converging point where all of the aforementioned genres had the unique chance to meet, interbreed, change, evolve into something truly unique and characteristic that would have probably never occur anywhere else the way it did, at the time it did and where it did. Rick set out to embrace and cultivate this sound, and capture all its nuances according to his unique sensibility as an artist and a performer. Music is all about evolution, and evolution only comes with the touch, feel and drive of single artists, who pass on what they love and learn from their own surroundings.

With the Chicago sound flowing through his veins forever, Rick Parma set out to bring the music he loved somewhere else, starting a new chapter and new, exciting adventure.

In 2009, Rick left his Chicago home for Southern California, where he settled within the local scene from the start, leaving a trail of positive responses and enthusiastic feedback after each and every live performance. His live activity brought him under the spotlight of some of the most renowned clubs and live venues and events in the area, including shows at Spaghettini, The Whiskey A Go Go,  and appearances at the legendary Newport Beach Jazz Fest, just to name a few. 

THE SAX

This artist is driven by a passionate, direct approach that make up for something more than just a skilled instrumentalist. When Rick plays his saxophone, he's not just worried about getting those notes right, about keeping up with the BPM (things that he can do effortlessly, anyway) and other technicalities, but he focuses on the feeling. Music is first and foremost an expression. It's about the energy that gets released in a room, when musicians can create just that perfect vibe, that feel and that charisma, which in a moment feeds back to the audience, whose response goes back to the band, just like a spark. 

THE VOICE

And then he takes the microphone... Everything  that he has ever known about music through his saxophone, has now seamlessly switched gears and redirected to his lips and vocal chords. What you hear is a controlled full-range voice with power, sweetness, tonality, flexibility, smoothness, and style that makes you believe your hearing a professionally recorded CD. 

With his voice, Rick is able to express more of his true soulful passion that he does with his sax. Then without any effort, continues his expression with the sax again. The two flow together in a way that no other artist has ever done. His ability to have a beautiful low-end presence along with crisp highs, Parma has a six octave range that he uses to make sure that the listener feels every bit of what he is passionately saying. 

INFLUENCES

It was the song "In Your Face" by saxophonist Richard Elliot that Rick heard as a child that got him excited about the saxophone in the first place.  However, it wasn't until watching a Dave Koz performance on cable T.V. that Rick fell in love with the idea of putting on a show and completely having the audience's every emotion in his hands. A few years later when Rick started high school, band was a mandatory class and he got his first shot at the sax. It was an instant connection! This was the one class the teacher never had to remind him to do his homework. As he developed as a beginner, his teacher shared with him music from other artists such as David Sanborn, Warren Hill,  Boney James, Eric Marienthal, and a few others. Through that, he developed his skills and techniques from his mentors. That was just the beginning. Early in his beginning stages when he heard an idea for a melody in his head, it was being played by one of his mentors. It was his passion inside that created his very own style and sound, now he hears himself.  This is key to being a true artist. Most try to copy others, a select few want to be something new. Now Rick's saxophone and voice go hand in hand.