"One of the finest straight-ahead jazz guitarists on the current NYC scene"
20th Century Guitar Magazine
"Guitarist Rick Stone's warm, swinging tone and impeccable taste in standards (Monk, Evans, Rodgers & Hart) as well as the consistently high quality of his own compositions make this quartet date a pure pleasure from start to finish . . . Recommended to all jazz collections."
Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
"Stone's playing combines the economy of Hall with some of the soul of Wes Montgomery, a little of Pat Metheny's lyricism and a deeper, darker-hued tone that brings to mind Pat Martino but with an approach that is more sparing. . . He clearly deserves broader recognition."
John Kelman, All About Jazz
From fresh interpretations of jazz standards, to lyrically evocative originals, New York City based guitarist Rick Stone is an artist with a clear musical vision. His fluid, full-bodied sound pays homage to the great jazz guitar masters of the past while maintaining a deeply personal style with a contemporary edge.
Rick's latest release "Samba de Novembro" showcases his guitar in a variety of solo, duo, trio and quartet settings along with long-time associates Tardo Hammer (piano) and Yosuke Inoue (bass), and special guest Matt Wilson (drums). Writes Jim Carlton in Just Jazz Guitar "His lyrical lines and imaginative ideas on a mix of originals and hip standards reflect his maturity as an interpreter of great tunes and his mastery as an artistically adept player. His tone is bright and crisp, some would say traditional, and his ideas are fresh."
The up-beat title cut "Samba de Novembro" and the pensive "Rain Forest" were inspired by Rick's 1996 South American tour. Richard Rodgers' "My Romance," Vernon Duke's "I Can't Get Started" and Thelonious Monk's "Played Twice" are each given personal interpretations by the trio. Rick's minor key original "Duck, Duck, Blues!" gets its title from the march-like rhythm of its opening solo choruses. On Kenny Werner's "Autumn in Three" the guitar and piano weave a tapestry of sinuous lines in a duo interpretation inspired by a Jackson Pollack painting. Bill Evans' "Song for Helen" is presented here as a solo guitar vignette. The traditional folk tune "Careless Love" gets a new twist in this calypso-like rendition punctuated with interludes of New Orleans-style parade drum. Yosuke Inoue's bass is featured in the trio's arrangement of his own composition "West Side Waltz." The CD finishes with two Stone originals; the upbeat "Blues Enough" and the reflective "In Loving Memory," a ballad dedicated to Ted Dunbar and Attila Zoller and performed as a guitar/piano duet.
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS:
Rick Stone came to national attention with his CD "The Rick Stone Quartet: Far East with Kenny Barron." Since then he has led groups with world-class sidemen like Kenny Barron, Eric Alexander, Junior Cook, Barry Harris, Vernel Fournier, Richard Wyands, Ralph Lalama, Dennis Irwin and Billy Hart, and appeared at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, The Smithsonian Institute, The Blue Note, Birdland and numerous clubs and festivals. Throughout the 90's Rick led a guitar series at the Swing Street Café (performing with Mark Elf, Roni Ben-Hur, Peter Leitch, and Peter Bernstein), his trio toured South America and played regularly at Sette MoMA (in the Museum of Modern Art). A sought-after sideman, Rick can be heard with Irene Reid, Ronny Whyte, Eric Person, Carol Sudhalter, Sol Yaged and many others. He is featured on Carol Sudhalter's CDs It's Time and Last Train To Astoria, and Al Ashley's These Are Them (with Dave Leibman). An active educator, Rick teaches, presents clinics and has received two IAJE Awards for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education. He is a regular columnist for Just Jazz Guitar magazine, and a contributing artist to several jazz books by Mel Bay Publications.
Tardo Hammer has been active on the New York scene for 25 years. He has recorded several albums as a leader, has toured Europe and Japan with his own group, and also appeared with Charles Davis, Lou Donaldson, Bill Hardman-Junior Cook Quintet, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Rouse, Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan Quintet, and The Vernel Fournier trio. He's served as pianist and musical director for Annie Ross, as well as accompanying vocalists Abbey Lincoln, Chris Connor, Earl Coleman, Teri Thornton and Jon Hendricks. For the past few years, Hammer has been on the faculty of the New School and the Lucy Moses School of Music.
Born in 1964 in Osaka, Japan, Yosuke Inoue is a graduate of the Osaka College of Music. A sensitive and confident bassist, he has earned a significant reputation working and recording with such notable musicians as Michael Carvin, Hank Jones , Abraham Burton, Carmen Lundy, Eddie Daniels, Terumasa Hino, Cyrus Chesnut, Norman Simmons, Don Friedman, Benny Wallace, Greorge Garzone, Dewey Redman, Junior Mance, David Liebman and Lee Konitz. He has recorded several albums as a leader and his group has performed at venues including The Blue Note, Sweet Basil's and Carnegie Hall.
The New York Times says Matt Wilson is "easily one of the best drummers of his generation." Matt's five releases on Palmetto have met with wide critical acclaim and he has repeatedly been chosen by the Down Beat Critic's Poll. Originally from Knoxville, IL, Matt moved to Boston where he worked with the Either/Orchestra and Charlie Kohlhase Quintet and then on to New York where he became part of the "downtown" avant-garde scene. He has performed with Dewey Redman, Cecil McBee, Lee Konitz, Fred Hersch, Garrison Fewell, Tim Hagans, Ingrid Jenson, Bill Mays, Dena DeRose, Ted Nash, Andrew Hill, Frank Kimbrough, Buster Williams, Denny Zeitlin, Ray Anderson, Frank Kimbrough, Jane Ira Bloom and the Herbie Nichols Project, and appears on over 100 recordings. Matt is a recipient of Chamber Music America's New Works grant, is a popular clinician for Zildjian cymbals and Pearl Drums, and writes a column for Modern Drummer magazine.
To view Rick Stone's online press-kit with expanded bio, printable jpeg photos and MP3 sound clips, visit www.rickstone.com
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