Ricky Peterson - A Tear Can Tell (1995/2001)

A life long Minnesotan whose sound has always focused on a characteristically "Minneapolis" sound, Ricky Peterson is best known for his now 21 year association with saxophone legend David Sanborn and for having, produced, written and played keyboards for Prince on and off since his early days on the Twin Cities scene (producing and arranging the song "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"). Playing on David Sanborn records since the mid 80's, he ensembled with and produced Sanborn on "Songs from the Night Before" and Prince on Gold, Emancipation, Crystal Ball and also played a big part in writing and producing George Benson's "That's Right" CD. This is just the icing on a career whose associations either live or in the studio read like a diverse pop and jazz trivia encyclopedia: Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Anita Baker, James Taylor, Mavis Staples, Joe Sample, Sting, Sergio Mendes, Brian Wilson, Ben Sidran, Rodger Waters, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Phil Upchurch, Jimmy Buffet, Fine Young Cannibals, Steve Miller Band, GoGos, Paula Abdul, Boz Scaggs, Dave Koz, Jonathon Butler, Bruce Willis, The Jets, Jermaine Jackson, Rhythm Syndicate, Chaka Khan, Robben Ford, Howard Hewett and Larry Graham.
Recording and touring over the years alongside everyone from Prince and David Sanborn to Bonnie Raitt and George Benson, Ricky Peterson learned more than a few things about what it takes to step into the spotlight and be a successful solo artist. Ricky started his solo career with his first album "Night Watch" with Tommy LiPuma at Warner Brothers in '89 . He then went on to create more music on the Go Jazz Label with the critically acclaimed "Smile Blue" and "A Tear Can Tell" in '92 and '96. He first was introduced to Windham Hill Jazz fans in '98 with single song contributions to popular television shows as well as the Midnight Groove sampler in 1998, the keyboardist makes his full-fledged Windham Hill label debut with the sometimes explosive, often laid back but always melodic and grooving Souvenir. While Peterson's tunes on those compilations displayed the gentler, more reflective side of his artistry, he adds to that palette on the new album with hard-hitting, edgy tunes that recall his upbringing as a fan of R&B/funk, progressive rock, jazz and blues.
Ricky is now working on his 5th solo CD which will be available within the next 3 months. He's promising the same musicality and funkiness that has procided in his previous CDs. Friend and colleague Ben Sidran put it best when he said of Peterson: "There are two kinds of genius, the kind that is, as the saying goes, 90 percent perspiration, 10 percent inspiration, and the other kind. Ricky Peterson is clearly the other kind, a born singer with a great range, a gifted keyboard player with his own sense of style and literally, a musical force of nature. It's all music to him. He's not a rock player trying to learn jazz or a jazz player trying to do rock...He's able to go into the memory bank and constantly come up with new sounds."

No matter who he plays with, Peterson brings elements of his trademark sensibilities to each and every project he contributes to. As he says, "Whether I'm working with Prince or George Benson, I bring everything I am to the studio and give them my all. I try to approach everything in a unique way, from compositions to arrangements, I make my harmonization skills very adaptable . Just as in my own music on my CD's, I try to bring a lot of diverse elements to the party."