Home » Jazz Musicians » Rick Helzer

Rick Helzer

Sign in / sign up and request update access to the Rick Helzer page.


Tags

179
Album Review

Rick Helzer: Face in the Mirror

Read "Face in the Mirror" reviewed by Michael Davis


When the South Bay-based trio Big World broke up in the early '90s, many local jazz fans were disappointed, feeling that, even after two good albums, the band's potential hadn't really been reached. Yet now, in 2005, it would appear that all three musicians are playing some of the best music of their lives. Tenor saxophonist Bill Plake is back burning with noted trombonist/composer Mike Vlatkovich, while percussionist Jeanette Kangas has spent the last couple of years in various creative ...

175
Album Review

Rick Helzer: Face In The Mirror

Read "Face In The Mirror" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Rick Helzer, composer/pianist/author and Associate Director of Jazz Studies at San Diego State University, displays a complex yet delectably attainable approach to modern jazz. With perennial poll winner James Newton appearing on flute on selected works, the various ensemble alignments provide a discerning glimpse into Helzer's linearly designed and lyrically rich compositional style.

Helzer bridges the best of several jazz-inflected idioms here, consisting of the soloists' brisk unison choruses often tied into bop-like patterns and glancing shifts in ...

163
Multiple Reviews

Nine Winds: Face in the Mirror and Fancy Meeting You Here

Read "Nine Winds: Face in the Mirror and Fancy Meeting You Here" reviewed by James Taylor


Vincent Golia has quietly built a powerhouse indie jazz label at Nine Winds. Since its establishment in 1977, the label has documented jazz's unappreciated West Coast, releasing albums from Nels Cline, Kim Richmond, Tony Malaby, George Lewis, Wadada Leo Smith and the multi-instrumentalist Golia.One of Nine Winds' strongest forces right now is pianist/composer Rick Helzer. The San Diego State University professor has been recording jazz for over twenty-five years, most notably with the trio Big World, and is ...

138
Album Review

Rick Helzer and Vinny Golia: Fancy Meeting You Here

Read "Fancy Meeting You Here" reviewed by Rex  Butters


Fancy Meeting You Here matches reed regent and CalArts faculty member Vinny Golia with pianist and UCSD faculty member Rick Helzer for a collection of emotionally rich duets, featuring some heart-wrenching playing by Golia. The intimate clarity of the recordings allows Golia's considerable vocabulary of nuance full exposure.

“You Tell 'em Kwai Chung flies out of the gate with Helzer's staccato notes falling all around Golia's galloping soprano. He plays a garrulous tenor on “Are We There Yet? with Helzer ...

Read more articles

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Triptych Mirror

Circumvention Music
2007

buy

Fancy Meeting You Here

Nine Winds Records
2005

buy

Face In The Mirror

Nine Winds Records
2005

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.