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.”
“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