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Thanks for stopping by Please listen to some of my Cd "Organ Trio" and "Clouds" take a look around my web site, I have a lot of new additions and some free stuff. From time to time I will be putting up new Items so check back. Remember please support my effort to bring you jazz education and music in general buy a CD or a book. I would like to hear from you also . Thank you for your support.
Rick Zunigar
BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY
For jazz guitarist Rick Zunigar, music has consistently been an integral part of his life. Born in Queens, N.Y. of proud parents native to Puerto Rico, Rick was immersed in an environment of cultural and musical diversity. Ricks gift for music originated from his mother who sang and performed at Radio City Music Hall. Rick grew up listening to salsa and jazz, and within him grew a desire to learn the art of music.It wasnt long before Rick discovered his true love: the guitar. The inspiration to play the guitar came from Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass. By the age of seventeen Rick had already hit the professional scene, building an enormous track record that now includes performances, recordings, and tours with many music greats like Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Smith ,Willie Bobo, Stevie Wonder and many more. Ricks extensive work has exposed him to multiple styles of music and enabled him to develop a limitless repertoire of musical styles.Ricks mainstay continues to be jazz; however, he enjoys incorporating all kinds of music into his playing, like bebop, Latin. R&B, and Fusion. This is exemplified in Ricks first solo recording New Frontier (Headfirst). Now released is Ricks latest recordings Clouds (Jazzuni) Rick Zunigar Organ Trio (Jazzuni) which again boast a group of jazz greats includingJoe Bagg-Organ, and Mark Ferber-Drums,Rick maintains his strong conviction to the mastery of the art of improvisation and composition. Ricks goal is to reach as many people with his music; he feels he has a contribution to make in continuing the support and nurturance of the art of jazz.
RZ_BIO.pdf
RECORDS
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Records
Rick Zunigar Trio-Clouds-JazzuniRick Zunigar-Organ trio-JazzuniRick Zunigar Quintet -New York Minute-JazzuniJoey DeFrancesco- 40 Highnote RecordsDave Collini-ASAP-OptimismBenn Clatworthy-While My Lady SleepsBenn Clatworthy-One 4 Nica-Cornerstone JazzRick Zunigar-New Frontier-HeadfirstStevie Wonder-Conversation Peace;Natural Wonder Tour Live;Hotter Than July; Original Musicquarium One;Secret Life of Plants; In Square Circle-MotownTake Six-Join the Band-Warner BrosLittle Jimmie Scott-Dream-Warner BrosLorez Alexandria-A Woman Knows-DiscoveryRoberta Flack & Donny Hathaway-FeaturingDonny Hathaway-AtlanticRoy Ayers-No Stranger to Love-PolydorClare Fischer-Salsa Picante, Machaca,Crazy Bird-DiscoveryJermaine Jackson-Lets Get Serious-MotownSmokey Robinson-Wheres the Smoke-TamalaMichael Franks-One Bad Habit-Warner BrosCal Tjader-Huracan-Crystal ClearCrusaders-The Good and the Bad Times-MCAHigh Energy-Groove Patrol-MotownEddie Murphy-Eddie Murphy-CBSWilton Felder-Love is a Rush-MCAMike Garson-The Oxnard Sessions-ReferenceJoe Sample-Roles-MCALA Jazz Syndicate- LA Jazz SyndicateMiki Coltrane-I Think of YouChris Ho- Growing upSylvia Striplin- Give me your LoveGrady Harrell- Come Play With MeCalifornia Smooth Jazz-SamplerHenry Franklin- ShalabongoNedra Wheeler- Gifts (live at birdland west)Kellee Patterson - Kellee- Shadybrook Records
RESUME
Resume
FILM SOUND TRACKSFrancis Ford Coppola-The Outsiders-By Stevie WonderStevie Wonder-Secret Life of PlantsVIDEOSStevie Wonder-Do I Do, Dont Drive Drunk, Motown 25, NBC Friday NightVideosCABLE and TELEVISIONBET on Jazz-Rick Zunigar Featuring Tony Dumas and Ralph Penland, 1995The Jazz Network-Rick Zunigar Featuring Mulgrew Miller, 1991PBS-The Freddie Hubbard and Pat Metheny GroupStevie Wonder-American Bandstand 30th Anniversary, American Music Awards, 1981;To Basie With Love at the Radio City Music Hall, 1982;Jay Leno,1995;David Letterman, 1995;Soul Train 25th Anniversary Show;Top of thePops, England, 1995;The White Room, England, 1995;Tara Tata Live, Paris,1995;The World Music Awards, Monte Carlo, 1995TOURSRickZunigar Tour Midlands England,2003Phil Perry-Atlanta Peachtree Jazz Festival, Washington, D.C.Stevie Wonder-Crown Plaza Hotel, Melbourne, Australia, 1997; NaturalWonder Tour, 1995, Japan, Israel, Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, England, France,United Arab Emerits, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Fight Against Hunger Tour, 1995;Singapore Tour, 1993; King of Brunei Royal Celebration for the Princes Birthday,1993; Hotter Than July Musical Picnic, 1981; Secret Life of Plants, 1980Freddie Hubbard-Newport Jazz Festival, USA & Europe, 1979Willie Bobo-USA Tour, 1977Crusaders-USA, Japan tours, 1986, 1987Queen Latifah "Trav'lin' Light" Tour 2007, 2008Joey DeFrancesco Trio Newport Jazz Festival & The 54th Monterey Jazz Festival with Special Guest Bobby Hutcherson 2011CLUBSJoey DeFrancesco Trio at Yoshi's Oakland, California 2011Village Gate, New York, 1992-Rick Zunigar Featuring Gerry Gibbs (drums),Ed Howard (bass), and Kevin Hays (piano).The Baked Potato, Los Angeles-with Ronnie Foster and Justo Almario.The Blue Note, New York and Tokyo-with Hubert Laws.Jimmy Smiths Supper Club-with the Jimmy Smith Trio.Jazz Bakery, Culver city.Steamers Jazz Club, Fullerton.Jax, Glendale.Hals Bar & Grill, Venice.Charlie O's, Valley Glen.Spaghettini, Seal Beach.Catalina Bar & grill, Hollywood.Bakers Keyboard, Detroit.OTHER FAMOUS TALENTS PLAYED WITHSara VaughnChick CoreaRay CharlesJoe WilliamsBenny PowellGeorge CablesGeorge DukePatrice RushenCoolioMary J. BligeRalph TresvantJohnny GillTootie HeathPancho SanchezJeff PorcaroJohn PatitucciBilly ChildsBlue MitchellWoody ShawErnie WattsJeff Tain WattsJeff BerlinEddie HarrisLee KonitzBobby LyleEddie Cleanhead VinsonRalph MooreMarvin Smitty SmithBilly HigginsPhineas Newborn, Jr.Randy CrawfordRosemary ClooneyTerri Lyne CarringtonHarvey MasonElvin JonesKenny KirklandJoey DeFrancescoRavi ColtraneDee Dee BridgewaterLarry BunkerWalter Bishop Jr
CONTACT
Contact
VIDEOS
Rick Zunigar Organ Trio _ Alvas
Tribute to Dave Carpenter
Videos
Newport Jazz Fest 2011: Joey DeFrancesco Trio [#1] - Donny's Tune (updated)
Rick Zunigar live _ alvas #4
Rick Zunigar Live in the Studio
REVIEWS
Reviews
Rick Zunigar Organ Trio
Clouds
While dating back a few years, Clouds is an album of hard-hitting post-bop that well deserves a second look. Guitarist Rick Zunigar and his trio are world-class performers and Zunigar, in particular, is an artist who ought to be much more well-known by now.Rhumboogie, the opening track on the disk, won Zunigar the JAZZIZ magazine Guitars on Fire grand prize, and thats no surprise. With a lightening fast theme, and a solo that demonstrates Zunigars remarkable dexterity, musicality and ability to build excitement, the track is the perfect introduction to Zunigars playing. It establishes Zunigar, in a short five-minute period, as a guitarist of consequence.While Zunigars name may not be well-known, the company he has kept over the years certainly is. He has played with artists including Stevie Wonder, Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Ray Charles, Roy Ayers and The Crusaders. While his own work demonstrates a predisposition towards post-bop, he is clearly a diverse guitarist, able to fit into a number of musical contexts.With a style that combines the best of Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, Mick Goodrick, Jim Hall and John Abercrombie, reverential without being imitative, Zunigar emerges, on Clouds, as a voice that is as substantial as his sources, and as unique.From lyrical linear work to full-bodied chordal passages, Zunigar has it all; a strong sense of rhythm and time; an innate sense of harmony; an economy in his playing that leaves no wasted notes; and a remarkable ability to construct solos that tell a strong story with a firm beginning, middle and end. Beths Blues is a strong example of all these skills.Throughout the programme of mainly original material, Zunigar also demonstrates strong writing, with a diverse set of tunes that are completely memorable; he writes melodies that stay with you long after the disk has ended.Bassist Zoltan Dekany and drummer Dave Hocker provide sympathetic support on the majority of the tracks. While the material is Zunigars, the approach of this trio is very reminiscent of Pat Methenys Trio 99>00 with Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart. On two of the three non-originals, Zunigar dabbles with the organ trio format and, while they are also beautifully done, it is with Dekany and Hocker that the chemistry really happens.Rick Zunigar is a guitarist waiting to happen; revisiting Clouds reveals a an artist who is at the top of his game; who is now the sum of his influences; and who is no longer an imitator, but rather a peer of the artists who helped mould his sound. He is an important guitarist who deserves broader recognition; why he has not reached a wider audience is a curiosity.John Kelman - www.jazzreview.com
2006 Jazzuni 002There seems to be a resurgence in the popularity of the organ triofeaturing guitar, organ and drums. More and more guitarists thesedays are turning to this format as their working bands, and nonestand out more than guitarist Rick Zunigar. Zunigar is not only agreat improviser, he is a masterful composer, arranger and bandleader. With Organ Trio, Zunigar has put together an album that isboth traditional and contemporary, and is a showcase for all of hisabove mentioned talents.The musicians gathered for this project are nothing less thanbrilliant at all times. With three different drummers: Dave Tull,Mark Feber and Don Littleon, and four organists: Bill Heid, Joe Bagg,Wayne Peet and Mikal Majeed, Zunigar has managed to create differentmoods on the album that make each track unique and a joy to listento. Not only are all of these musicians great players, theirinteraction produces a conversational style of improvising that neversounds like the soloist is being put out front, but more of a cog intheir musical machine.The tunes on the album are a variety of standards ("Milestones","All Blues", "In a Sentimental Mood"), seldom played jazz tunes(Highway One by Bobby Hutcherson), and originals by Zunigar and JoeBagg. Of particular note are the arrangements of "Milestones" and"Sentimental Mood," both featuring Zunigars wonderful chord-melodyplaying. There is something for everyone on this album, burningsingle- note solos, delicate chord melodies and swinging melodicsolos. It never sounds like the soloists are playing licks orpatterns over the given chord changes, but that they are playing thetune itself, which allows each tune to have a life of its own.I think that Organ Trio would be a welcome addition to anyguitarists musical library. The playing is great, the arrangementsare fresh, and the musicians are always at their best. What morecould one want from any jazz album?Matthew Warnock - Just Jazz Guitar (Dec 22, 2006)
JAZZUNI
PHOTOS
PHOTOS
Rick Z. and Ellsberry Guitar
Rick Z. live 1
Rick z. live 2
Ellsberry Guitar
Rick Z. live 3
Joey D. Trio live _ Racine Zoo
Rick Z. live 4
Joey D. trio Steamers
Rick Z. live 5
Pat Martino and Rick Zunigar
Rick Z. with Stevie W.
Rick Z.And Queen L.
Rick Zunigar with friends
Me with Freddie Hubbard 1977
live _ the lighthouse
To my friend Carp
Monterey Jazz 2011
Playboy Jazz with Sal Marquez
Rick Z. trio
BOOKS
BOOKS
A fine romance/guitar chord melodyby Rick Zunigar Price $4.00
With 7 great solos based on standard changes with analysis. Written in standard notation and tablature, for all levels including audio.I. Alone Forever Chord and Solo Analysis:II. B Flat Tire Blues Chord and Solo Analysis:III. Days of Wine and Cheese Chord and Solo Analysis: IV. Some Day A Surprise Will Come Chord and Solo Analysis:V. Too High At Noon Chord and Solo Analysis:VI. Me & My Jeep Cherokee Chord and Solo Analysis: VII. Too Sensitive Chord and Solo Analysis:Bk & CD $20.00
Guitar solo over the chord progression of Autumn leaves with PDF and MP3 filePrice $4.00
LESSONS
Rick Zunigar Online Guitar Lessons
LESSONS
Guitar Lesson's with Rick Zunigar.If your interested in private lesson in jazz guitar, I teach a wide range of subjects you can learn harmony, & theory , ear training ,reading, improvisation, chord melody, rhythm guitar comping, and much more.PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION & TEACHING atUniversity of California, Riverside............. Clinics & Concert PerformancesCal Arts Institute, Valencia, CA................. Clinics & Concert PerformancesOn staff at Musicians Institute-GIT, Hollywood, CA........... Private lesson, Reading, Rhythm Section Workshops, Live Playing Workshop,Clinics & Concert PerformancesLeeds Music School, Leeds England………… Clinics & Concert PerformancesBirmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham England Clinics & Concert PerformancesCalifornia State University Los Angeles.......... Guitar Master Class
Online Guitar Lessons
Are now available to the student of guitar, from any country in the world. All you need is a computer, a camera, and a high speed Internet connection. I use Skype, which is free if you are a member making skype to skype calls . So all you have to pay for is the guitar lesson.To learn more about this fast, fun, and easy way to study guitar from the comfort of your own home, please contact me Thank you.I am taking online lessons from Rick a few months and I'm loving it, he is a very good teacher and knows how to work in the subjects of jazz guitar in a 100% applied learning, and I'm growing a lot in my jazz guitar playing with his lessons.I can learn all the things you learn in the best and expensive schools without going out of my place.EmmanuelCuritiba, Paraná, BrazilThanks so much Rick. I learned so much in a short amount of time. Thank you for sharing your depth of knowledge with me. It's pretty amazing to behold someone who has taken their gift and developed it into such a monster skill as you have. I listened back to our lesson today and just salivated at the amazing music that was coming out of your hands and heart. I find it pretty hilarious how you say that you played only 'a few good notes.' Only a few? More like a slew of good notes. CurtisPenticton, British ColumbiaCanada
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