Rich Perry has been living and performing in New York City since 1976. His beautiful tone and sophisticated harmonic conception have given him a unique creative voice which critics have described as “eloquent,” “inventive,” “thoughtfully lyrical” and “impassioned yet cerebral.” Born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, Perry became interested in jazz in high school, and studied briefly at Bowling Green State University, before moving to New York. In 1977 he joined the Thad Jones /Mel Lewis Orchestra—which at that time included Pepper Adams, Jerry Dodgion, Rufus Reid, and Harold Danko—and spent the next two years touring the U.S. and Europe. After Thad Jones left the band, Perry continued playing with Mel Lewis, recording three LP’s with him, including Live in Montreux, and Naturally. The band, with Perry as a key member, is now known as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and continues to tour and record. Three of their recent cds have been nominated for Grammy awards. A highlight of Perry’s career has been his association with the gifted composer and arranger Maria Schneider. As a charter member of her orchestra, Perry has been featured on all of her cds including, Allegresse, Coming About, Evanesence , and the Grammy award winning Concert In The Garden. Sky Blue, features Rich’s Piece, a beautiful composition written for him. He has performed with her in Europe, Asia, and throughout the U.S. He has maintained a long-term friendship and collaboration with Harold Danko, begun during their days with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis. It has resulted in Perry’s cds To Start Again, Cancoes do Brasil, At Eastman, East Of The Sun, Rhapsody, Your’e My Everything and At The Kitano Vol 1. and Danko’s cds Prestigious, Nightscapes, Stablemates, Tidal Breeze, New Autumn, The Feeling of Jazz, Next Age, and Oatts &Perry Vols 1, 2, and 3. Perry has recorded extensively for SteepleChase.. The 20 cds he has recorded as a leader have featured such greats as George Mraz, Fred Hersch, Victor Lewis, Scott Colley, Billy Hart, Frank Kimbrough, Jay Anderson, Renee Rosnes, Billy Drumond, George Colligan, and Tom Rainey. He has also appeared on recordings of Ron McClure, Dave Stryker, Dave Scott, Paul Bley, Lee Konitz, Andy Laverene, Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, and Gary Versace Perry is also a member of the George Mraz Quartet, The Matt Panayides Group, The Dave Scott Quintet, and the John Fedchock New York Big Band. He has also played in several groups led by the pianist Fred Hersch. Perry is a skilled instructor of jazz improvisation and is on the faculty of William Paterson University, New York University, and Manhattan School Of Music. He has led clinics and workshops at schools in the U.S. and abroad including The University of North Texas, The Eastman School of Music, Northern Iowa State University, University Of Cincinnati, Old Dominion University, Bowling Green State, University Of Oregon, IACP, Paris, and the AMR in Geneva, Switzerland, to name a few. He has appeared on over seventy cds, these are a few of them; The Rufus Reid Quintet: The Gait Keeper, Live At The Kennedy Center George Mraz : Bottom Lines, Mraz Jazz, with Richie Beirach, Al Foster Fred Hersch : Songs Without Words, Point in Time, Forward Motion Ron McClure : Soft Hands, Dream Team, Double Triangle, with Tim Hagans, Mark Copeland, Billy Hart Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: Up From The Skies, The Way, Can I Persuade You, Lickety Split, The Thad Jones Legacy Andy LaVerne: Pianissimo Paul Bley: Speechles ,with Victor Lewis The John Fedchock New York Big Band: Up And Running, No Nonsense, On the Edge Dave Stryker: Blue to the Bone , Big Room Lee Konitz: RichLee Joe Henderson: The Joe Henderson Big Band Big Band Gary Versace: Time And Again Clay Jenkins: Matters Of Time Sila Cevikce: A New Abode Rich Perry can be heard every Monday night with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the Village Vanguard in New York. New York City based Saxophonist & Educator http://richperrymusic.com