This week we feature jazz guitarist Rick Stone.

I happened upon Rick Stone's website much by accident, however I'm glad I did. I had heard of him before, but never really sat down and checked out his playing. Rick Stone a wonderful player, a skilled technician with a flowing, melodic style. He owns his own commercial recording studio, his own record label, and has released a very good CD. In addition, Rick Stone is sought after as an educator, giving lessons and doing clinics all over the US.

Rick Stone also has a very comprehensive website with lots of articles, lessons, sound clips, reviews, compositions, arrangements and many other features.

Rick Stone's Online Bio:

Whether performing a major concert venue or festival, leading an all-star group for a club or record date, or teaching the finer points of jazz to a class full of students, guitarist Rick Stone has earned a reputation for excellence that is recognized by critics, musicians, educators, students and fans alike.

It was during the mid-seventies while attending college in his native Cleveland, that guitarist Rick Stone happened to tune in to a live broadcast of saxophonist Sonny Stitt. Totally absorbed by bebop, Rick soon realized that he would dedicate his life to playing jazz and on the advice of his music professor Dr. Joseph Howard he enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Earning his degree in 1980, Rick moved back to Cleveland and then on to New York where he found a fertile and stimulating environment at Barry Harris' Jazz Cultural Theatre studying with the pianist and gaining valuable experience sitting in alongside venerated senior players like Tommy Flanagan, Art Blakey and Lionel Hampton. From 1986-88 he performed regularly with underground legend Clarence "C" Sharpe as a member of trumpeter Jimmy Robinson's All-Stars at the University of the Streets.

Continuing his formal education at Queens College, Rick earned his Masters Degree under the tutelage of jazz masters Jimmy Heath, Ted Dunbar, Donald Byrd and Tony Purrone, and later studied privately with Hal Galper through an NEA Jazz Studies Grant.

By the late 80's Rick was organizing some impressive groups of his own. With sidemen like Junior Cook, Richard Wyands, Michael Formanek, Leroy Williams, Victor Gaskin, and Vernel Fournier, he began playing the Blue Note, Birdland, and other major venues. Soon he was being invited to perform at clubs and festivals throughout the region; One Step Down, Blues Alley, Rusty's, Rhythms, Tri-C JazzFest, and many others.

In a world where independent recordings are routinely ignored by the media, Rick's efforts for his own Jazzand label have been remarkably successful. His 1985 debut Blues For Nobody, with Hal Galper, Billy Hart, Brian Hurley and Marc Bernstein prompted Hugh Wyatt of the New York Daily News to suggest that perhaps Stanley Jordan was "not the only new guitarist deserving of attention(!)" and in the Arts Midwest JazzLetter, Willard Jenkins noted Rick's "sweet tone [and] impressive chops!"

His second effort, Rick Stone Quartet FAR EAST with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Don Gladstone and drummer Curtis Boyd brought Rick much deserved national attention. After being widely and favorably reviewed Far East made the Gavin Report's Top 50 Jazz Albums listing for sixteen weeks (an unheard-of feat for an artist-released recording). Approving words came from Rick's mentor Jimmy Heath, who said "Rick Stone is one of the most outstanding young guitarists I've heard in recent years" and Jazziz Magazine's Bob Young wrote "Far East offers proof of the guitar riches lurking out there if you dig around a little deeper."

In addition to his work in clubs and on record, Rick has actively promoted public understanding and appreciation of the role of the guitar in jazz. His Tribute to the Masters of Modern Jazz Guitar--a special program celebrating the music of Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Raney, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall and many others-- has been sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and presented at venues like the Smithsonian Institute, Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and others. With notable sidemen like Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, Richard Wyands, Ralph Lalama, Dennis Irwin, Kenny Washington, Leroy Williams, and Tootsie Bean these concerts have been particularly memorable.

Read on at Rick's homepage
http://www.rickstonemusic.com

Rick Stone's online lessons
http://www.jazzguitarlessons.com

Sound Clips
http://www.inch.com/~jazzand/sounds.html

Doc Dosco is a jazz guitarist, composer and audio consultant living in Los Angeles, CA. His website is located at http://www.docdosco.com, where you can find more information on the 'What's Hot in Jazz Guitar' columns, audio clips of Doc's playing, and many additional features. Doc plays Heritage guitars and endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube Amps -- great for jazz (and anything else!)