Rick Parker - New York Gravity (2002)

Trombonist/composer Rick Parker releases his first CD as a leader entitled "New York Gravity" with his group, the Rick Parker Collective. The group performs all original compositions and also features trumpeter/composer Thad Wilson who has been one of the fixtures of the Washington, DC jazz scene since moving there five years ago.

Since relocating to New York in September of 2001, Rick Parker has already performed at several of the city's major jazz clubs including Birdland, the Jazz Gallery, the Knitting Factory and Kavehaz. In addition to leading his own group, the Rick Parker Collective, he is a member of Kuumba Frank Lacy's Vibe Tribe. Rick was also selected to participate in the Kennedy Center's "Betty Carter Jazz Ahead" invitation only workshop for composers/soloists where he studied under Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis and Eric Reid among others. In March, 2002, he was also named runner up in the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition. Since graduating from Georgetown University with a B.A. in economics in, Rick has begun studying towards his masters in jazz performance at New York University.

Born in 1978, Rick has already performed with such jazz greats as George Benson, Grady Tate, Cecil Bridgewater, Frank Lacy and Andrew White in venues across the world including the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Birdland, Blues Alley (DC), Jazz Club (Argentina) and Oliveria Always (Argentina). He has studied with Conrad Herwig, Frank Lacy, Steve Davis, Don Freidman and Per Brevig.

Before moving to New York, Rick was making a name for himself on the DC jazz scene where he performed with the 16-piece Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra, a group for which he also composed, his own small groups, and with several salsa bands. He appears on recordings including A Work In Progress, Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra and Riot at the Mardi Gras Dance Hall, One Too Many.

Born in 1965, trumpeter/composer Thad Wilson has become one of the premier jazz musicians in Washington, DC. His big band, the Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra which plays almost entirely original compositions and arrangements, has performed almost every week for the past four years and currently performs weekly at HR57 in Washington, DC. He has collaborated with and arranged for Grady Tate and Andrew White and has performed with such notables as Charlie Persip Super Band, James Moody, Johnny Oneal, Benny Golson, McCoy Tyner, George Benson and Wynton Marsalis. Thad has lead groups at venues including the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Blues Alley and currently performs with five piece ensembles, Inner Urge and the North/South Ensemble. He appears on Naked Jazz Takes Off, Savoy Jazz Label, New York Gravity, Rick Parker Collective and his own, A Work In Progress, Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra.

Rick Parker (tb), Charis Ioannou (ts, ss, b-cl), Andrew Haskell (p, Fender Rhodes), Matt Grason (b), Kyle Struve (d), Thad Wilson (tp, flh)