Rick Parker

"Rick Parker possesses the goods to make a difference within the global jazz community." (Glen Asitaria, JazzReview.com) Not yet 30 years of age, trombonist/composer Rick Parker has already begun to make a name for himself on an international level. His quintet, the Rick Parker Collective, recently released its 2nd CD, Finding Space, in September of 2006, and it was promptly named an All About Jazz Publisher's Top CD Pick CD for that year. Parker has been a guest on radio and online broadcasts such as the Musician's Show on New York City's WKCR 89.9FM and The Jazz Session a podcast interview series by Jason Crane. Most recently, Parker was featured in the "Players" section of the October, 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine.
"Sleek and modernistic" (David Adler) aptly describes the Rick Parker Collective. The band has drawn rave reviews, being called "the best kept secret in New York right now." (All About Jazz) The group performs all original music and has graced the stage at many popular venues including: the Williamsburg Jazz Festival; Blues Alley; the Somers Point Jazz Festival; Chris's Jazz Cafe; Knitting Factory; Bar4; Cornelia Street Cafe and the Bowery Poetry Club. The ensemble's well crafted voice first sounded on the international jazz scene in 2004, with the release of their first CD, New York Gravity, on the Fresh Sound New Talent record label.
In addition to leading the Collective, Parker also co-leads an improvised electronic music group called Ambient Assault which consists of electric trombone, keyboards and two drummers. His other musical endeavors include the world renowned trombonist/composer Ku-umba Frank Lacy's 14 piece Vibe Tribe and legendary drummer Charlie Persip's big band. Parker is also the Co-Producer of the Williamsburg Jazz Festival.
A prolific composer, Parker was named a winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards for 2004/2005. In April of 2002 and 2003, he participated in the Kennedy Center's Betty Carter Jazz Ahead invitation only workshop for composers/soloists where he studied under jazz icons such as Curtis Fuller, Eric Reid and John Clayton. In March 2002 he was named runner up in the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition.