The new Rick Stone Quartet will perform a set of recently composed jazz originals at the New York Public Library Donnell Library Center on Saturday, April 19th 2008. The quartet consists of guitarist/composer Rick Stone and pianist/composer Ted Kooshian, bassist David Kingsnorth and drummer Tom Pollard. Donnell Library Center is located at 20 West 53rd Street, New York, NY (between 5th and 6th Avenue). For more information call 212-621-0665.

The group formed out of a need to play some new music. Says Rick "many musicians complain about the lack of opportunity to play their own music, but often don't do anything about it. I knew that there were a lot of guys out there like me who were just itching to play some new material. So I built a home recording studio and just started inviting musicians to some sessions." The group's lineup solidified pretty quickly with bassist Dave Kingsnorth, pianist Ted Kooshian and drummer Tom Pollard. "This is a great band to play with because there's very little ego involved. We just enjoy getting together and playing new material and everyone's open to trying different things."

About the Musicians

Robert Silverstein of 20th Century Guitar magazine calls Rick Stone "one of the finest straight-ahead guitarists on the current NYC jazz scene." Rick's recordings "Blues For Nobody," "Far East" and "Samba de Novembro" have received significant national airplay and critical acclaim. He has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Blue Note, the Smithsonian Institute, Kennedy Center, and other major venues. Rick's own groups have included stellar line-ups with musicians like Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, Ralph Lalama, and Eric Alexander. He has also worked as a sideman with blues singer Irene Reid, saxophonist Eric Person, and swing clarinetist Sol Yaged, and also teaches jazz guitar at Hofstra University, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Jazzmobile Saturday Workshop Program. There is an extensive cover story on Rick in the August 2007 issue Cadence Magazine.

Pianist Ted Kooshian grew up in the Bay Area and started playing piano at an early age. His interest in jazz was sparked when he heard a record of Oscar Peterson. Ted studied jazz performance at San Jose State College and then worked as a pianist on cruise ships, travelling to the Far East, the South Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean. Since moving to NewYork City in 1987 he has developed into an incredibly versatile player, working and recording in the jazz, pop and Broadway fields. He has worked with artists as varied as Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Toni Braxton, Marvin Hamlisch, Sarah Brightman, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears, as well as the Broadway shows; “Aida,” “The Lion King,” “Mamma Mia," and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

Originally from San Francisco, David Kingsnorth studied with noted jazz bassist John Clayton and Stephen Tramontozzi of the San Francisco Symphony. He earned both math & music degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, before moving to New York in the late 90's. Since then he has been a regular member of the Rick Stone Trio and Quartet, and also performs with Richard Wyands, Vinnie Ruggieri, Oscar Brown Jr., and the Michael Morreale/Ray Scro Big Band, among others.

Drummer Tom Pollard is known for his versatility and creative, open rhythmic approach to playing jazz. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, he left his home town to study jazz at the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1998 he moved to New York City where he has performed with noted jazz artists such as pianist George Colligan and saxophonist Eric Person. In addition to teaching drumset and jazz improvisation at the Queens Conservatory of Music, he can be seen and heard performing regularly in the various jazz clubs in and around New York City.

For More Information Contact: Rick Stone 917-309-7091, rickstone@rickstone.com

Download the poster at: http://www.jazzand.com/Street-Team/Donnell_4-19-2008 flyer.pdf

Robert Silverstein of 20th Century Guitar magazine calls Rick Stone "one of the finest straight-ahead guitarists on the current NYC jazz scene."  Rick's recordings "Blues For Nobody," "Far East" and "Samba de Novembro" have received significant national airplay and critical acclaim.  He has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Blue Note, the Smithsonian Institute, Kennedy Center, and other major venues.  Rick's own groups have included stellar line-ups with musicians like Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, Ralph Lalama, and Eric Alexander.  He has also worked as a sideman with blues singer Irene Reid, saxophonist Eric Person, and swing clarinetist Sol Yaged, and also teaches jazz guitar at Hofstra University, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Jazzmobile Saturday Workshop Program.  There is an extensive cover story on Rick in the August 2007 issue Cadence Magazine.

Pianist Ted Kooshian grew up in the Bay Area and started playing piano at an early age.  His interest in jazz was sparked when he heard a record of Oscar Peterson.  Ted studied jazz performance at San Jose State College and then worked as a pianist on cruise ships, travelling to the Far East, the South Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean.  Since moving to NewYork City in 1987 he has developed into an incredibly versatile player, working and recording in the jazz, pop and Broadway fields.  He has worked with artists as varied as Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Toni Braxton, Marvin Hamlisch, Sarah Brightman, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears, as well as the Broadway shows; “Aida,”  “The Lion King,” “Mamma Mia," and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

Originally from San Francisco, David Kingsnorth studied with noted jazz bassist John Clayton and Stephen Tramontozzi of the San Francisco Symphony.  He earned both math & music degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, before moving to New York in the late 90's.  Since then he has been a regular member of the Rick Stone Trio and Quartet, and also performs with Richard Wyands, Vinnie Ruggieri, Oscar Brown Jr., and the Michael Morreale/Ray Scro Big Band, among others.

 
Drummer Tom Pollard is known for his versatility and creative, open rhythmic approach to playing jazz. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, he left his home town to study jazz at the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1998 he moved to New York City where he has performed with noted jazz artists such as pianist George Colligan and saxophonist Eric Person. In addition to teaching drumset and jazz improvisation at the Queens Conservatory of Music, he can be seen and heard performing regularly in the various jazz clubs in and around New York City.

MTA Subway

— Sixth Avenue or Eighth Avenue to Fifth Avenue; walk west 1/2 block.

— to Seventh Avenue; walk east two blocks.

— to 47th-50th Streets (Rockefeller Center); walk north three blocks and east 1/2 block.

— to 50th Street; walk north three blocks and east 2 1/2 blocks.

— to 51st Street; walk north two blocks and west 3 1/2 blocks.

— to 49th Street; walk north four blocks and east 2 1/2 blocks.

MTA Bus

M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, Q32 — southbound on Fifth Avenue to 53rd Street; walk west 1/2 block.

M1, M2, M3, M4, Q32 — northbound on Madison Avenue to 53rd Street; walk west 1 1/2 blocks.

M5, M6, M7 — northbound on Sixth Avenue to 52nd Street; walk north one block and east 1/2 block.

M27, M50 — crosstown (westbound on 49th Street; get off at Fifth Avenue); walk north four blocks and west 1/2 block; (eastbound on 50th Street; get off at Fifth Avenue); walk north three blocks and west 1/2 block.

M57, M58 — crosstown on 57th Street; get off at Fifth Avenue and walk south four blocks and west 1/2 block.