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Rick Germanson

Rick Germanson

Pianist/composer



Jazz pianist Rick Germanson

Rick has also been documented on over fifty sessions as a sideman with many of the top musicians in jazz today.

Rick Germanson is a professor of jazz piano at the acclaimed Jackie McLean Institute at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford.

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Rick Germanson Master Class available at My Music Master Class.

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RICK GERMANSON has been a highly in-demand pianist on the New York City Jazz scene for well over a decade. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rick relocated to New York City in 1998. Rick won the GRAND PRIZE at The American Pianists' Association Jazz Piano Competition in 1996. He was awarded "Best of New Talent" in 2004 by All About Jazz NYC.

Rick has four recordings out as a leader: The first two are on Fresh Sound New Talent: "HEIGHTS" and "YOU TELL ME". His recording "OFF THE CUFF" on Owl Studios reached #15 on the Jazz Radio Play Charts. The latest is on SmallsLive "RICK GERMANSON: LIVE AT SMALL'S". Downbeat and JazzTimes magazines have given Rick's recordings rave reviews. Rick has also been documented on over forty recordings as a sideman with many of the top musicians in jazz today.

Since 2001 to the present, Rick has been touring and recording with The Cannonball Legacy Band featuring Louis Hayes. From 2003-2008 Rick also toured with master guitarist Pat Martino. Currently, Rick is also the pianist for guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Nat Reeves, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, trombonist Papo Vazquez's Mighty Pirates Troubadours among many others.

Rick has performed throughout the world, at the top festivals, concert halls and clubs with the following jazz artists: Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine; Louis Hayes; Jimmy Cobb; Grady Tate; Pat Martino; Russell Malone; Dr. Eddie Henderson; Kyle Eastwood; Tom Harrell; Brian Lynch; Jeremy Pelt; Jim Rotondi; Duane Eubanks; Curtis Fuller; Slide Hampton; Papo Vazquez; Frank Lacy; Steve Davis; Delfeayo Marsalis; Cecil Payne; Charles Davis; Frank Morgan; Charles MacPherson; Donald Harrison; Vincent Herring; Sherman Irby; George Coleman; Javon Jackson; Eric Alexander; Craig Handy; Wayne Escoffrey; Steve Nelson; Marlena Shaw; Kevin Mohagany; Carolyn Leonhart; Regina Carter; Gerald Cannon; Jay Leonhart; Mingus Dynasty; Ray Mantilla and Space Station.

Rick is also an experienced educator, having given clinics and master classes at such institutes as New York University; The Julliard School; Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is currently on faculty at The Jackie McLean Institute at The Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford.




DISCOGRAPHY

Releases as Leader:

Turquoise Twice


1. Turquoise Twice
2. Thanks for What
3. After All
4. Dexterity
5. Very Early
6. Angel Eyes
7. The Interloper
8. Ann Elizabeth

WJ3 Records WJ31023
personnel: Rick Germanson, piano and others
Recorded 2019


Live at Smalls

Rick Germanson: Live at Smalls
1. So Tired
2. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
3. Shorter Waltz
4. Interloper
5. The Single Petal of a Rose
6. Say It (Over and Over Again)
7. Edge

Smalls Records SL0024
personnel: Rick Germanson, piano; Paul Gill, bass; Louis Nash, drums;
Eddie Henderson, trumpet
Recorded on July 15 & 16, 2011
at the SMALLS JAZZ CLUB, GREENWICH VILLAGE, NYC.


Off the Cuff

Rick Germanson: Off the Cuff

1. Quagmire
2. Jill's Song
3. Daytona
4. Up Jumped Spring
5. This Time The Dream's On Me
6. Wives and Lovers
7. The Way of Water
8. Autumn In New York
9. Brick
10. Any Thoughts?
Owl Records OWL00127
All songs by Germanson unless indicated
personnel: Rick Germanson, piano; Gerald Cannon, bass; Louis Hayes, drums


You Tell Me

Rick Germanson: You Tell Me

1. Entropy
2. Dance of the Forgotten
3. In The Cut
4. Theme for Eliot
5. Angel Eyes (M.Dennis-E.Brent)
6. It Was a Very Good Year
7. Alter Ego (J.Williams)
8. Erika's Endeavor
9. Born to Be Blue (M.Torme-R.Wells)
Fresh Sounds- FSNT 215CD
All songs by Germanson unless indicated
personnel: Rick Germanson, piano; Gerald Cannon, bass; Ralph Peterson, drums


Heights


1. Game Theory
2. Tune Up (Davis)
3. Heights
4. Lover (Rodgers/Hart)
5. Susan's Waltz
6. Smokehouse Blues
7. April Mambo
8. Pannonica (Monk)
Fresh Sounds- FSNT 155CD
All songs by Germanson unless indicated
personnel: Rick Germanson, piano; Brian Lynch, trumpet; John Webber, bass; George Fludas, drums; Luis Diaz, percussion


As a Support Player:

Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours
"Songs Del Yucayeke"
Picaro Records 2024
Augie-Hass-8-Live-at-The-Speakeasy Augie Hass + 8
"Live at The Speakeasy"
Playtime Music 2024
Paul Brusger, A Soul Contract Paul Brusger
“A Soul Contract”
SteepleChase Records 2024
Abena Konsom-Davis, Where Is Love Abena Konsom-Davis
“Where Is Love”
WJ3 Records 2024
Eric Alexander, Timing Is Everything Eric Alexander
“Timing Is Everything”
Cellar Live 2024
Ken Fowser Resolution Ken Fowser
"Resolution"
WJ3 Records 2023
Eric Alexander, Sasquatch Eric Alexander
"Sasquatch" EP
iTunes 2023
Alex Norris, Chess Moves Alex Norris
"Chess Moves"
SteepleChase Records 2023
Joe Chambers, Dance Kobina, Blue Note 2023 Joe Chambers
"Dance Kobina"
Blue Note
2023
Gemma Sherry,Let's Get Serious Gemma Sherry "Let's Get Serious"
Tunley Records
2021
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours
"Chapter 10: Breaking Cover"
Picaro Records
2020
Ian Hendrickson-Smith, The Lowdown Ian Hendrickson-Smith
"The Lowdown"
Cellar Live Records
2020
Night Is Alive's, First Christmas arrangements by Rick Germanson Night Is Alive
"First Christmas"" arrangements by Rick Germanson
Night is Alive Productions
2019
Ken Fowser, Don't Look Down John L Nelson Project
"Don't Play With Love"
Paisley Park Productions
2018
Ken Fowser, Don't Look Down Nat Reeves "Blue Ridge"
Sidedoor OLCT 0001
2018
Wayne Escoffery - Intuition "Intuition"
Wayne Escoffery
Nagel Heyer 2018
-Artist website
click here to buy >>
Ken Fowser, Don't Look Down Ken Fowser Quintet
"Don't Look Down"
Posi-tone
2018
Papo Vazquez, J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations for Jazz Quartet Papo Vazquez
"J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations for Jazz Quartet"
Picaro Records
2017
Ken Fowser, Now Hear This Ken Fowser Quintet
"Now Hear This"
Posi-Tone Records
2017
Alan Leatherman - Her Alan Leatherman
"Her"
AJL Music
2017
Gerald Cannon, Combinations Gerald Cannon
"Combinations"
Woodneck Records
2017
Russell Malone, Time For The Dancers Russell Malone
"Time For The Dancers"
HighNote
2017
Ken Fowser, Standing Tall
"Standing Tall"
Posi-Tone Records
PR 8145
2016
Joe Chambers, Landscapes Joe Chambers
"Landscapes"
Savant - SCD 2140
2016
Russell Malone, All About Melody Russell Malone
"All About Melody"
High Note - HCD 7287
2016
Papo Vazquez, Spirit Warrior Papo Vazquez
"Spirit Warrior"
Picaro Records
2015
Russell Malone Russell Malone
"Love Looks Good on You"
HighNote Records
2015
Kyle Eastwood, Time Pieces Kyle Eastwood
"Time Pieces"
Jazz Village
2015, Japanese Vinyl release only
Ben Gillece, Mindset Ben Gillece
"Mindset"
Posi-Tone
2015
Louis Hayes Cannonball Legacy Band Louis Hayes Cannonball Legacy Band
"Live at The Cellar"
Cellar Jazz
2015
Sydney Claire Sydney Claire
"All Ella"
Frankly Scarlett Records
2014
Charles Davis Charles Davis
"For The Love of Lori"
Reade Street Records
2014
Kenny Lavender Kenny Lavender
"Conscious Journey"
Lavender Music
2014
James Zollar James Zollar
"It's All Good People"
JZAZ Records
2013
Michael Pedicin Michael Pedicin
"Why Stop Now/Ubuntu"
GroundBlue Records
2013
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours
"Oasis"
Picaro Records
2012
Nat Reeves Nat Reeves
"State of Emergency"
482 Music
2012
Bill Cantrall & Axiom - Live at the Kitano "Live at the Kitano"
Bill Cantrall & Axiom
2012
-Artist website
Killer, Ray Appleton, Naptown Legacy "Naptown Legacy"
"Killer" Ray Appleton
Hollistic Music Works, 2012
Alan Leatherman - Detour Ahead "Detour Ahead"
Alan Leatherman
2011
Joe Magnarelli, Live at Smalls "My Old Flame"
Joe Magnarelli
2010
Gerald Hayes - Then and Now "Then and Now"
Gerald Hayes
2010
Neal Smith/Rick Germanson/Seth Lewis - This Christmas "This Christmas"
Neal Smith/Rick Germanson/Seth Lewis
2010
Ken Fowser/Behn Gillece, Little Echo "Little Echo"
Ken Fowser/Behn Gillece
Posi-Tone 2010
James Zollar, Zollar Systems "Zollar Systems"
James Zollar
JZAZ Records 2009
Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Live at Smalls "Live at Smalls"
Ian Hendrickson-Smith
SmallsLive 2009
"How About This"
Peter Dominguez
"Axiom"
Bill Cantrall
Upswing Records UR-01, 2008
Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra "Maria Juanez"
Brad Leali Jazz Orchestra
TCB (2007)
"Blues in the Basement"
Ian Hendrickson-Smith Cellar Live 2006
"Maximum Fire Power"
Louis Hayes and The Cannonball Legacy Band
Savant Records SCD 2078/td>
Sketch for Summer - Eri Nobuchika "Sketch for Summer" Eri Nobuchika
Sony (Japan)
-Artist website
New 8th Day - Carolyn Leonhart "New 8th Day" Carolyn Leonhart
Sunnyside Records
24/7 - Brian Lynch "24/7"
Brian Lynch
Nagle-Heyer
Path to Delphi - David Gibson "Path to Delphi"
David Gibson
(Nagle-Heyer)
Some of my favorite songs are... - Neal Smith "Some of my favorite songs are..."
Neal Smith
Swingin' Is Believin'' - Neal Smith "Swingin' Is Believin''"
Neal Smith
Common Man - Pete Zimmer Quintet "Common Man"
Pete Zimmer Quintet
Tippin' Records
Deluxe - Ron Sunshine "Deluxe"
Ron Sunshine
David Gibson "G-RAYS"
David Gibson
Nagel-Heyer
Lance Bryant "As for Me and My House"
Lance Bryant
Seven17 Records
Gerald Cannon "Gerald Cannon"
Gerald Cannon
2003 Gerald Cannon
Jeremy Pelt's Insight "Insight"
Jeremy Pelt Sextet
Criss Cross Records, Holland
DREAMIN' OF CANNONBALL, Cannonball Legacy Band Feauturing Louis Hayes and Vincent Herring "DREAMIN' OF CANNONBALL"
Cannonball Legacy Band
(Feat. Louis Hayes and Vincent Herring)
TCB #21222, Switzerland (2003)
BIG SUNFLOWER, Michael Amendola "BIG SUNFLOWER"
Michael Amendola
DCD Records (2003)
Lance Bryant - Psalm "PSALM"
Lance Bryant
LDB Productions (October 4, 2003)
"CANDY"
Ron Sunshine
Golden Bug Records (2001)
DO THAT MAKE YOU MAD? Brian Lynch/Tomonao Hara Quintet "DO THAT MAKE YOU MAD?"
Brian Lynch/Tomonao Hara Quintet (Feat. Jimmy Cobb.)
ZOO'T Label, Japan (2001)
Buddah Boogie, George Gee "Buddah Boogie"
George Gee
Swing 46 Records (2000)
Swingin' Away...Live, George Gee "Swingin' Away...Live at Roseland"
George Gee
Swing 46 Records (1999)
Luiz Diaz - On the Edge "ON THE EDGE"
Luis Diaz Quintet
LMD Productions (1999)










CONTACT

Jazz Piano Faculty, Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz
Hartt School