Rick Margitza


Rick Margitza is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Margitza's paternal grandfather, a Hungarian Gypsy violinist, taught him to play the violin at the age of four. His father also played violin with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Following this he played piano and oboe, and settled on tenor sax while in Fordson High School. He attended several colleges: Wayne State University, Berklee College of Music, University of Miami, and Loyola University New Orleans. He toured with Maynard Ferguson and Flora Purim in the 1980s, and moved to New York City in 1988, where he played with Miles Davis.
Between 1989 and 1991, Margitza released three albums for Blue Note Records, Color, Hope and This Is New. Q Magazine described Hope as "a soft, glancing rather affected record".
During his career he has recorded mostly with others, including with Eddie Gómez, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Maria Schneider, McCoy Tyner, and Chick Corea. He has also composed a saxophone concerto and two symphonies for orchestra.
Since moving to Paris in 2003, he has performed with Martial Solal, François Moutin, Louis Moutin, Ari Hoenig, Franck Amsallem, Jean-Michel Pilc, and Manuel Rocheman.

Discography

As leader

Color U.S. Jazz No. 9Hope U.S. Jazz No. 11This Is New U.S. Jazz No. 19Second Home with Jeff Gardner Work It Hands of Time Game of Chance Conversations with Bert Van Den Brink Heart of Hearts Memento Bohemia Gypsy Tenor with Tony Lakatos, Gabor Bolla
  • ''Sacred Hearts''

As sideman

With Miles DavisAmandla Live Around the World Miles in Montreux The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux 1973–1991
With John FedchockJohn Fedchock New York Big Band On the Edge No Nonsense Up & Running
With Andy LaVerneFrozen Music Severe Clear Serenade to Silver
With Lou RawlsIt's Supposed to Be Fun The Legendary Lou Rawls
With Maria SchneiderEvanescence Coming About Allégresse Days Of Wine And Roses - Live at the Jazz Standard
With others