Music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Life is for the Living release 1Q 2002.
Tune '091101' #1 on jazz charts at soundclick.com 2nd week of October 2001. Tunes can be streamed from, soundclick.com, mp3.com or iuma.com and from rickrichbourg.com
Photos
Bio
I grew-up playing all the local saloons, taverns, frat parties, school dances, gin joints and "dives in beer- bar-land". As my native area expanded from Pensacola to New Orleans and beyond, my musical influences reflected a growing stimulus. A little "Funk" here, a batch of 'Zydeco' there, stir in some real Jazz, pepper lightly with good old Rock-n-Roll and simmer with a "vicious through-down groove" and you have the primordial-musical-gumbo that provides the DNA of my musical nucleus.
After a stint in the music department at Pensacola Junior College annoying the chairman of the music department with inappropriately- syncopated rhythms for 4 voice chorals and Jazz counterpoint, the Good Doctor Whitmore implied I needed to find a "different" college. His suggestions included Berklee College of Music. So, off I went -to the frozen environs of New England and my new alma mater.
Most of the stuff you read about Berklee was still true then: a keen, highly competitive environment, world famous alumni and teachers - all professionals - some giants in their field - "eager evangelists" spreading the gospel of Jazz while still providing the traditional musical glue that provides the foundation of western music. By the time I had graduated with my degree in composition I had written some traditional music pieces including a Symphonic tone poem for full Orchestra, Piano Sonata, Fugue, Motet and six works in smaller forms. Augment the writing schedule with the daily hours of instrumental practice, ensemble obligations, class, gigs and homework and you have a full musical schedule not for the faint of heart; but, I digress [grin].
After graduation I was a hired-gun. (Doesn't that sound better than I was just a full-fledged musical hooker? [grin]) On the other hand, I found an added bonus in playing all of these differing styles: an improved genre appreciation. Over the years, recording sessions, a stint as a musical director for Johnny Thunder (of "Here we go loop de loop" fame) and house gigs have all helped to ensure my "continuing" musical education.
If you labored long enough to get this far - thanks! Please be sure to listen to the tunes!
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