John Rich has been playing piano and keyboards for over 50 years. After just a few years of lessons, improvisation took over. Mischievously, he rearranged the songs assigned by his teacher. Classical songs morphed into jazzier Dixieland songs. The teacher quit.
At the age of 13, John left home to attend Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, where he had access to both piano and upright bass. The school had a small Dixieland band which allowed him to sit in on rehearsals. Later, at Middlebury College in Vermont, he joined a small band which entertained at fraternity houses and area pubs.
In the 1960s he bought his first acoustic piano. He was influenced by Ramsey Lewis, Jimmy Smith, and other jazz artists. When Michael Olding came out with "Tubular Bells," John was inspired to develop his own gentle music using jazz harmonies. After a move to the Portland Oregon area, weekend visits to the nearby coast offered many inspirations.
In 1984 he bought his first keyboard and began recording relaxing improvisations. The term "New Age" was beginning to be used and seemed to fit his style. A local church asked him to play, and some in the audience asked for tapes. Thus, his first tape, "Reaching for the Sky," was published in 1990. In 1994 John released his first keyboard CD, "Morning's Promise."
In 1995 he was fortunate to find a mellow sounding Yamaha grand piano. The deep resonance of this piano helped inspire new compositions. John captured a sense of place with his music in the next two albums, "Piano with an Ocean View" and "Piano Images."
In 1999, John teamed up with Paul Kreider, an accomplished, classically trained flutist. John and Paul played together with remarkable ease and created amazing results. Their combined talents are exemplified on the CDs “In the Moment” and “Glide.”
In 2003, John released “Jazzin’ It Up.” A compilation of his jazzier cuts. A few of these songs were sprinkled into the earlier CDs for fun and contrast.
John continues to play at coffee houses, weddings, and special events. He enjoys creating a reflective and joyful space for himself and others.
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