Jason Rigby has been hailed as “a truly lyrical musician" and "New York's rising star of tenor sax

Jason Rigby has been hailed as “a truly lyrical musician" and "New York's rising star of tenor sax." His pioneering voice deftly combines many influences – critics recognize the creative mindset of Wayne Shorter, the energy of John Coltrane, and the elasticity and compositional style of Ornette Coleman and Paul Motian – emerging as something wholly new and yet recognizable. He is rapidly ascending the jazz world ranks as a saxophonist, composer and bandleader.

Childhood
Jason was born in Japan on December 2, 1974. A military family, the Rigbys lived in Texas, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon before settling near Cleveland in 1979. Jason’s earliest musical memories are of his parents’ Beatles albums and his grandfather’s ragtime piano playing. He took up the alto saxophone at age 9 and switched to his main instrument, tenor saxophone, a year later after hearing a recording of Coleman Hawkins.

By middle school, Jason’s love of making music was already intense and he participated in numerous school bands and choirs. He pursued music out of school as well, performing in the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, West Shore Chorale and Ohio Jazz Orchestra for Youth, and attending jam sessions at the Cleveland Bop Stop, a real listener's venue. Jason studied with Cleveland jazz saxophone legend Ernie Krivda during those formative years and later performed weekly in Krivda’s big band, the Fat Tuesday Jazz Orchestra, during college.

University
Jason earned a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance (both classical and jazz) at Youngstown State University in Ohio, graduating summa cum laude. He studied with Tony Leonardi, head of the jazz program and a lauded bass player who toured with Woody Herman in the 1960's. Another important mentor was the great classical saxophonist Dr. James Umble, a protégé of the legendary French saxophonist Jean-Marie Londiex. While at YSU, Jason performed with guest artists James Moody, Phil Woods, Bobby Shew, Bill Pierce, Mike Abene and Jimmy Owens as well as professionally with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra.

A one-year stint at the DePaul University Music School followed, allowing Rigby to make his mark at many of Chicago's jazz venues.

Rigby moved to New York in 1998 and soon after won DownBeat’s award for Best College Instrumentalist while attending Manhattan School of Music. He received a full scholarship to MSM, where he earned a Master of Music in jazz saxophone, studying with Dick Oatts, Rich Perry and Mike Abene.

As a Leader
After appearing as a sideman on many Fresh Sound Records releases, Jason was approached by Fresh Sound to record his own music. Rigby’s debut effort, Translucent Space (2006), containing eight Rigby-penned tunes, received numerous accolades. It was listed by Wire Magazine as one of the “Top Jazz and Improv Recordings of 2006” and praised in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Saxophone Journal and other periodicals of note. The CD features Rigby on saxophones, bass clarinet and wood flute, joined by veteran bassist Cameron Brown, Mark Ferber on drums, Mike Holober on piano and Rhodes, and a handful of guests.

With his sophomore release, The Sage (Fresh Sound Records 2008), Rigby put forth new compositions designed to spark group improvisation and creative interplay. The top-notch quintet includes Rigby, Brown and Holober, drummer Gerald Cleaver and trumpeter Russ Johnson. The recording instantly received stellar reviews, as exemplified by Jim Macnie’s piece in The Village Voice: “… the saxophonist’s quintet sustains a daunting finesse while swinging full tilt on the new The Sage. Imagine Miles’ Filles De Kilimanjaro outfit pumping out some Jazz Messengers’ energy.”

Jason’s European record release tour for The Sage in late 2008 was extremely well-received and his dates stateside have been very successful. “With two CDs to his name, Rigby has revealed his artistry and created the hope that there will be more from him in the future”. (Jerry D’Souza, AllAboutJazz New York)

As a Sideman and Educator
Rigby has performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, Chico O’Farrill’s Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, David Binney Big Band, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Mike Holober’s Gotham Jazz Orchestra, Alan Ferber Nonet, Eivind Opsvik’s Overseas, Kris Davis Group, Scott Dubois Quintet and Jeff Davis Group, among others.

In addition, he is a regular member of the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Cameron Brown Quartet, Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra and a number of creative small groups including the electronic-rock-jazz-garage trio Heernt with drummer Mark Guiliana. Rigby has performed with many jazz notables including John Patitucci, Jim McNeely, Donny McCaslin, John Riley, Tim Horner, Dick Oatts, Danny Gottlieb, Tony Malaby, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton and David Liebman.

An active educator, Jason teaches at the City College of NY and the New School and has given master classes at other universities. In 2007 Rigby appeared as a guest soloist and clinician at the Festival Internacional CEDROS in Mexico City. He has also taught at the New York Pops “Salute to Music” program, New York Summer Music Festival, Stony Brook University, Hartwick College Summer Music Festival, Larchmont Music Academy and outreach programs with the Westchester Jazz Orchestra. Many of Rigby's young private students have gone on to attend prestigious music colleges.
http://www.jasonrigby.net/