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Rick Waldron

Piano at age 4, by the time Rick was in high school he had added trombone. guitar, bass and voice to his talents, and had begun to pen his first compositions. College included honorary scholarship and music fraternities, as well as performing, teaching, writing, arranging, and recording classical, pop and jazz music in a variety of settings. During this time, Rick traveled internationally with numerous acts, and appeared on stage with Sly Stone, Billy Preston, Hamish Stuart, Ohio Players, Minnie Ripperton, and many others. Rick currently lives in Seattle, and has been a college music department chairman for 25 years. In addition to his performance and recording career, he has directed musicals, adjudicated at competitions and festivals, taught privately, even supplied music, interviews and articles for radio shows. Rick’s fourth recording, AFRICA, explores new territory –the music continues to explore stylistic frontiers while maintaining a standard of musical excellence. The influences are there: you can hear Corea, Metheny, McFerrin, Steely Dan and many others melded into a new vocal, percussive, evolving experience. “ I was fortunate to have some very good teachers at an early age, a supportive family, a wide variety of musical experiences, and a desire to avoid doing the same thing over and over again. I hope that my optimistic and diverse view of life comes through in the music.”

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6
Album Review

Rick Waldron: Africa

Read "Africa" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Multi-instrumentalist Rick Waldron is one talented guy -aside from playing all the guitars, basses and keyboards on Africa he also gets in some trombone, mandolin and banjo, plus doing the composing, arranging and production. The album is not really about the music of Africa, and the title track “Africa" is not a deep musicological investigation into African roots music. It does allude to that music, however, and is but one example of very lively and happy music which ...

4
Album Review

Rick Waldron: Africa

Read "Africa" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


Even before a single note of Africa hits the air, the long list of instruments played by leader/composer Rick Waldron suggests that something unusual is afoot. For his fourth CD Waldron, who has chaired the music department at Everett Community College since 1990, has created a lively and intricate session that defies easy description. There's reason to expect some traditional jazz, given that Waldron earned a Master's degree in composition from North Texas State, one of the best ...

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“The closest thing we have to Bill Evans that we have here in the Puget Sound” Independent Voice

“Passionate music driven by creativity and diversity..some tasty hooks..haunting & relaxing melodies...Rick’s engaging yet playful piano solo is refreshing, warm and sensitive." www.smoothjazz.de 'Nothing like on a rainy day to have a nice cup of coffee and some latin-flavored contemporary jazz from local artist Rick Waldron on your CDplayer.....sit back and enjoy and forget about the weather!' Q13Fox News "It’s not quite anything I can classify, and it is perhaps the most oddly enjoyable record I’ve heard in long time." Chris Robinson, Earshot Magazine "...This is a wonderful third album with a very skilled composer at the center...I’d go see these guys in a heartbeat and we are lucky to have Rick Waldron in the Northwest." Victory Review

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/arts/music/waldron

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Africa

Waldron Music
2015

buy

Africa

Unknown label
2014

buy

The Heart of the...

Unknown label
2009

buy

Endless Pursuit

Unknown label
2005

buy

Twist of Fate

Unknown label
1995

buy

Videos

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