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Rick Margitza

Rick Margitza, who has long been regarded as one of the « Young Lyons » of the International Jazz Scene, is nowadays one of the most respected musicians of his generation. Excellent tenor and soprano saxophonist, mostly inspired by John Coltrane, Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter, he has managed to expand and develop his unique voice, highly poetic and sharply incisive.

He started on the violin when he was four. His grandfather was a cellist and his father a violinist with the Detroit Symphony. He then studied classical piano for a bit, and also played oboe before switching to tenor in high school. He attended Wayne State University, Berklee, the University of Miami, and finally Loyola University in New Orleans, where he lived and played for four years.

Back then, Rick was touring with Maynard Ferguson and also Flora Purim and Airto Moreira. He then moved to New York in 1988.

That same year he joined Miles Davis' group and recorded three albums with them: “Amandla”, “Live around the world” and "Live in Montreux". He then cut three sets as a leader for the prestigious label Blue Note during 1989-1991. Since 1994, his career found itself enriched with five more solo albums and collaborations with such artists as Maria Schneider, Chick Corea and McCoy Tyner.

The Jazz All Stars: The Jazz All Stars Volume 1

Read "The Jazz All Stars Volume 1" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
February 25, 2021

The gigless times of 2020--the year of the Covid-19 pandemic--could have brought musicians and the industry to their collective knees, gasping for air. Instead, it resulted in more new music than ever before. It filled our lungs with fresh air. It filled our hearts and souls, not to mention our ears. New businesses opening, defying the odds and pursuing their dreams, is a relevant factor. Le Coq Records, emerging in 2020, boldly presents an all-star ensemble—featuring many of ...

Album Review

South Florida Jazz Orchestra: Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza

Read "Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 10, 2020

In 2019, the acclaimed Michigan-bred, Paris-based tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza thought he was being asked to contribute a couple of charts to the University of South Florida Jazz Orchestra's fifth recording in its fifteen-year history as a working ensemble. But when SFJO founder and leader Chuck Bergeron looked at the charts he had an even better idea, and asked Margitza to write and / or arrange everything on the album, which thus became Cheap Thrills: The Music of Rick Margitza. ...

Album Review

South Florida Jazz Orchestra: Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza

Read "Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
October 8, 2020

The concept of a large, tightly-knit big band in a recording studio, on a concert or jazz club stage may just be a plug-in memory in today's environment. Fortunately there is the fifteenth anniversary recording of The South Florida Jazz Orchestra directed by bassist/bandleader Chuck Bergeron, entitled Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza, to remind us what a disciplined inventive big band sounds like. With the exception of George and Ira Gershwin's “Embraceable You," all the other ...

Radio & Podcasts

Rick Margitza on choosing the right note

by Leo Sidran
June 5, 2019

In this episode, saxophonist Rick Margitza talks about what it was like to be thrust into the jazz limelight overnight, working with Miles Davis, moving to France, dividing the octave and choosing the right note. ...

In Pictures

Rick Margitza at Folkclub

by Antonio Baiano
March 11, 2019

Photos of the concert by Rick Margitza, Furio DiCastri, Nico Morelli and Enzo Zirilli held at Folkclub, Torino, on February 21, 2019. ...

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Album Review

Rick Margitza: Memento

by AAJ Staff
November 1, 2001

If consistency is a virtue, then Rick Margitza’s second album for the Palmetto label is a truly righteous affair. Memento follows the footsteps of the tenor saxophonist’s seven previous albums offering a melodic program firm on composition and rhythm.

Margitza’s operated in a variety of settings since the late-‘80s when critics heralded him as one of the “young lions”. He started his career as a sideman for Miles Davis; has utilized various ensemble formats on his previous albums; and here ...

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Album Review

Rick Margitza: Heart of Hearts

by Glenn Astarita
June 1, 2000

Amid all the hoopla emanating from the current ensemble of young jazz lions, saxophonist Rick Margitza was himself cited as a young stylist on the move during his late 1980’s emergence on the jazz scene. And now with Margitza’s seventh recording, the saxophonist upholds or maintains his prominent stature in jazz on Heart of Hearts.

Margitza possesses a slender, glowing tone whether performing on tenor or soprano sax. With pieces such as “14 Bar Blues” and “You Must Believe in ...

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Performance / Tour

Moutin Reunion Quartet with saxophonist, Rick Margitza Chris' Jazz Cafe on May 7, 2011

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2011

On May 7 2011, Chris' Jazz Cafe presents the Moutin Reunion Quartet, touring in support of their recent CD Soul Dancers. The Moutin Reunion, headed by Francois Moutin on bass and Louis Moutin on drums was forged by their common desire to create music expressing the energy of life; full of emotion and spontaneity. Music close to what they intimately feel, inhabited by the jazz spirit, swing and grooves, inviting listeners and musicians to celebrate beauty and imagination. Joining them ...
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