Rick Margitza

Rick Margitza (2012)

Richard Dean "Rick" Margitza (* 24. October 1961 in Detroit , Michigan ) is an American jazz - saxophonist and composer .

Live and act

Margitzas ancestors were from Slovakia originating Roma . His paternal grandfather played Hungarian gypsy music on the violin, his maternal grandfather was a jazz bassist, his father a classical violinist; he played with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years . Margitza learned to play the violin at the age of four, and later classical piano training was added.

Under the influence of Charlie Parker's music , he switched to the saxophone in junior high school. He then studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston , the University of Miami and Loyola University in New Orleans . He lived in New Orleans for four years before going to New York City in 1988 with Maynard Ferguson , Flora Purim and Airto Moreira , where he was hired by Miles Davis for a European tour. Already in 1989 was released by Blue Note his first album as a leader, which was followed by yet another nine. He also worked with Eddie Gomez , Tony Williams , Bobby Hutcherson , Maria Schneider , McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea . In Germany he has been heard regularly with Peter Protschka since 2013 .

Margitza composed a saxophone concerto and two symphonies for orchestra.

Discographic notes

• Color , 1989
• Hope , 1990
• This is New , 1991
• Hands of Time , 1995
• Work It , 1995
• Game of Chance , 1997
• Heart of Hearts , 2000
• Memento , 2001
• Bohemia , 2004
• Second Home , 2006
• Tony Lakatos , Rick Margitza, Gábor Bolla : Gypsy Tenors , 2017 ( Skip )

Web links

• Rick Margitza at Allmusic (English)
• Rick Margitza at Discogs (English)