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Rick Gallagher

Jazz pianist/composer Rick Gallagher has been a part of the Pittsburgh music scene since the late 1980's. Over the years Rick has done solo and group work in a wide range of contemporary styles but has found a voice as a player and composer in classic jazz. He has worked with many of the region’s top jazz musicians, singers and bands ranging from the Boilermaker Jazz Band to the Orchard Hill Church Worship Team, and has done solo piano work at such diverse venues such as the historic Grand Concourse; the Gandy Dancer Saloon piano bar; and the PPG Holiday Series. Currently Rick can be seen regularly at the critically acclaimed Pines Tavern restaurant, the Northway Christian Community worship team, as well as his long-standing spotlight as the pianist with the US Steel Tower and One Oxford Center downtown. Gallagher is noteworthy for his classic jazz style, creative arrangements, memorable originals, and his soulful organic sound. Rick has eight recordings and his music has been enjoyed on radio stations worldwide.   A Pittsburgh native and father of four, Gallagher received a Bachelor of Music at Duquesne University where he studied under the mentorship of David Budway. His influences include Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Brad Mehldau, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Benny Green, Ray Brown, Wynton Kelly, Cyrus Chestnut and George Shearing. Rick is available for concerts, studio work, custom composition, film and TV scoring, private music instruction, church performances, and other private and public events.   Film/TV music credits include: ABC - Recovery Road (2016) ABC - Fosters (2015) USA - Graceland (2015) ABC - Switched at Birth(2014) CBS - Friends with Better Lives (2014) FOX - The Mindy Project (2013) NBC - Grimm (2013) USA - Royal Pains (2012) ABC - Revenge (2012) NBC - Smash (2012) Lifetime - Army Wives (2012) NBC - Friday Night Lights (2011) HBO - Bored To Death (2011) NBC - Heroes (2009) FOX  - Dollhouse (2009)   Corporate Clients Include Carnegie Mellon University (2016) ScottTrade (2016) Jos. A Bank (2015) Consumer Energy (2015)   Licensed releases include: Songs for Stuffing - A Thanksgiving Mix(2011) - NPR Jazz Christmas, iTunes Essentials (2007 - current) - Various Artists Jazz in Love, MyMusic Group/EMI (2010) - released in Poland and Eastern Europe Feel Jazz for Xmas, MyMusic Group/EMI (2009) - released in Poland and Eastern Europe A Sleigh, a Song, and a Baby Boy (2008) - Hitman Music, re-released exclusively in Thailand Coldwater Creek: Home for the Holidays Volume Four (2007) Coldwater Creek: Home for the Holidays Volume One (2004)

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Bailey's Bundles

Notable and Nearly Missed 2016

Read "Notable and Nearly Missed 2016" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


It is impossible, even for John Kelman, Mark Corroto, and Dan Bilawsky, to cover all the music worthy of discussion in a given year. At least that is my line and I am sticking to it as I pen my “Notable and Nearly Missed 2016" column. Rick Gallagher--Christmas Tidings: A Collection of Jazz Christmas Carols (RiDGeTONE Records, 2016). Working backwards, jny: Pittsburgh's Rick Gallagher's holiday trio presentation, Christmas Tidings offers many seasonal delights presented squarely ...

131
Album Review

Rick Gallagher: Sugar Shack

Read "Sugar Shack" reviewed by John Barron


Jazz musicians often struggle with the notion of attracting a wide audience without having to sacrifice their creative vision. Pittsburgh pianist Rick Gallagher seems to have figured out a way to produce original jazz with an accessible appeal that maintains artistic integrity. Sugar Shack, Gallagher's fifth solo release, is an inventive, swinging piano trio collection featuring bassist Paul Thompson and drummer Thomas Wendt. Percussionist George Jones joins in on a couple of tracks.

Gallagher is a confident pianist with the ...

419
Take Five With...

Take Five With Rick Gallagher

Read "Take Five With Rick Gallagher" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Rick Gallagher:Jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over the years Rick has done solo and group work in a wide range of contemporary styles but has found a voice as a player and composer in classic jazz. Rick is a father of four.Instrument(s):piano.Teachers and/or influences?Teacher: David BudwayInfluences:Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, Cyrus Chestnut, Bennie Green, George Shearing, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Bill Evans, ...

139
Album Review

Rick Gallagher: Peace Be Still

Read "Peace Be Still" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Jazz artists have always expressed spirituality in their music, whether it be subtle inclusions or overt dedications of faith as found in John Coltrane's masterpiece, A Love Supreme. Pittsburg pianist Rick Gallagher's third release is a solo outing featuring a fresh reworking of popular hymns and spirituals. His previous two recordings, the debut Sweet Potato Eyebrows, and a holiday recording A Sleigh, A Song & A Baby Boy, both delivered appealing and thoughtful music with the pianist surrounded by solid ...

280
Album Review

Rick Gallagher: A Sleigh, A Song & A Baby Boy

Read "A Sleigh, A Song & A Baby Boy" reviewed by Dave Nathan


Like it or not folks - and what's not to like - that Season is upon us with all its attendant musical fantasies, sugarplum fairies, and the other appropriate traditional items and trappings of the holy season. So the market will be loaded with releases of jazz, variety pop, classical and Latin, Holiday, modern Latin, calypso and bossa nova mixed in well so the result is a true bouillabaisse a Christmas nog. The thing they have in common is that ...

357
Album Review

Rick Gallagher: A Sleigh, A Song & A Baby Boy

Read "A Sleigh, A Song & A Baby Boy" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


The classic sounds of Christmas music are always a joy, and this season they are reinvigorated with the new release by jazz pianist Rick Gallagher. A talented musician, Gallagher received deserved acclaim and airplay for his debut recording Sweet Potato Eyebrows, which featured his own compositions as well as classics. With an approach in the Ellingtonian vein, he combines a fresh sound with a modern focus on swing and style.

A Sleigh, a Song, & a Baby Boy ...

114
Album Review

Rick Gallagher: Sweet Potato Eyebrows

Read "Sweet Potato Eyebrows" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Style and panache are just a few adjectives used to decribe jazz music and the way it make listeners feel. The phrase “Jazz it up" means to take something and add a little flair and spice to it. Gershwin and Ellington were masters in the classic sense at the very heart of swing and were synonymous with music that trancended the ordinary, but was accessible to everyone. They produced music that made your toes tap and your heart smile with ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Christmas Tidings - A...

RiDGeTONE Music
2017

buy

Hymns

RiDGeTONE Music
2017

buy

Solo Standard Vol. I

RiDGeTONE Music
2012

buy

Sugar Shack

RiDGeToNe Music
2007

buy

Snowriding

RiDGeToNe Music
2006

buy

Peace Be Still

Serendipity Records
2005

buy

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