Rick Strauss

Whether he’s working acoustically or amplified, before large audiences or individual students, Rick Strauss performs with passion as his key element. Strauss performs with versatility, and resists a single stylistic category—be it up- tempo be-bop, free-jazz jam, blues shuffle, or solo acoustic guitar. An insightful composer, tasteful guitarist, and imaginative producer, Strauss has two internationally released discs on the ProJazz label. The first, Jump Start, reached #20 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, and placed in the top 15 on all major radio trade reports. Body Lines, his second album, also reached the top 15 in all major radio trade reports. Both albums continue to receive worldwide exposure on Jazz and Adult Contemporary radio formats. Strauss’s work and experimentation began in the 1970s while writing and playing with Flight, a budding group of young musicians from upstate New York. Interweaving elements of Jazz, Rock, and World Music, the musical explorations of Flight helped spawn the formation of the internationally acclaimed group, Spyro Gyra. Strauss played and composed for that group’s Morning Dance album which rose to the top of the charts, and received Platinum status. It has been their only Platinum album to date. Strauss has an impressive educational background in music. He has studied composition with Livingston Gearhart and Edgar Grana. His guitar studies include stints with Frank Gerard, Joe Pass, Ed Arkin, and the legendary Ted Greene. Rick earned his Masters Degree at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, composing music for orchestra, brass quintet, big band, and guitar, under the direction of Dr. James Mabry. Rick also worked as a music educator at the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts where, as a director, he expanded the Guitar Studies Program and taught Music Theory for over two decades. As a well-respected and innovative guitarist, Strauss has performed in Genoa, Italy at the Fritz Lang Theatre, and at clubs and festivals throughout Germany, Sweden, Canada, and all across the United States—in addition to playing locally at Pops concerts with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras. He has worked with many well-known names in the Jazz world including: Bobby Short, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Militello, Don Menza, John Dankworth, Bobby Previte, and Dave Brubeck. Rick has been a featured artist at the Sammons Jazz Festival in Dallas, the Lewiston Jazz Festival, and the New York State Wine Festival. His original compositions include music for film, television, theater, and live events.

Awards

2022 Buffalo Jazz poll winner for Guitar

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