Rick Germanson

Rick Germanson has been a highly in-demand pianist on the New York City Jazz scene for nearly a decade now. Born May 29, 1972, Rick left his native Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the heels of winning the Grand Prize at The American Pianists' Association Jazz Piano Competition in 1996. His recent accomplishments have garnered much adoration from the media and led to him to being chosen as Best of New Talent in 2004 by All About Jazz.

The Rick Germanson Trio has performed at Smoke, Smalls, The Kitano and Fat Cat in N.Y.C., Blues Alley in D.C., The Indianapolis Jazz Festival and The Artists' Quarter in Minneapolis. Currently, the Rick Germanson Duo can be heard every Wednesday and Thursday evening at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Manhattan. As a solo pianist, Rick performed five nights a week during a year long residency at the acclaimed Four Seasons Restaurant in 2001, the only musician to ever do so.

Rick has two recordings out as a leader on Fresh Sound New Talent: "HEIGHTS" (FSNT 155, 2003) and "YOU TELL ME" (FSNT 217, 2005). Downbeat and JazzTimes magazines have given both recordings rave reviews. Rick has also been documented on over two dozen sessions as a sideman with many of the top musicians in jazz today.

Since 2001, Rick has been touring with the Cannonball Legacy Band; a group that features the original Cannonball Adderley Quintet legendary drummer Louis Hayes. For over a year now, Rick has also been holding down the piano chair for grammy nominated guitarist Pat Martino, touring the world paying tribute to Wes Montgomery.

In addition to the aforementioned, Rick has toured throughout the world, performing at many of the top jazz festivals, venues and concert halls with the following jazz artists: Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine; Regina Carter; Tom Harrell; Slide Hampton; Frank Morgan; Eric Alexander; Frank Lacy; Marlena Shaw; Kevin Mohagany; Donald Harrison; Brian Lynch; Jeremy Pelt; Jim Rotondi; Duane Eubanks; Charles McPherson, Charles Davis; Craig Handy; Cecil Payne; Lance Bryant; Gerald Cannon; Carolyn Leonhart; George Gee Orchestra and many others.

Rick is also an experienced educator, having given clinics and/or taught master classes at such institutes as New York University; The Julliard School; Jazz at Lincoln Center Outreach Program; New Jersey Performing Arts Center Jazz for Teens Program; The Jazz Standard Jazz Discovery Program and the McNally-Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN.