Jason Rigby has been hailed as “a truly lyrical musician" and "New York's rising star of tenor sax." His earthy voice deftly combines many influences – critics recognize the creative mindset of Wayne Shorter, the energy of John Coltrane, and the elasticity and compositional style of Ornette Coleman and Paul Motian. John Murph of the DownBeat states: "Rigby's burly tenor tone and searching improvisations recall the expressionistic flights of Ornette Coleman and Joe Henderson." He is rapidly attracting the attention of the music world as a saxophonist and composer who has something important to say.
Focusing his attention on organic spontaneity, Rigby's concept involves creating sonic beauty with experimentation, risk-taking, interaction and musical development. The TRIO project aims at stretching the boundary of possibilities of the spare instrumentation - moving beyond the innovations achieved by previous masters. Rigby draws inspiration from the Muromachi style of Japanese painting, interpreted musically by using as much sonic expression as possible with a very small group. The simple brush strokes become brief musical gestures, sometimes one falling into the next. Compositionally this includes weaving free melodies with traces of harmonic center, counterpoint, and juxtapositions of soaring tones against rhythmic rumbles. The dynamic is wide from the most savage roars to the quietest whispers.
Rigby’s debut recording effort, 'Translucent Space' (2006), received numerous accolades. It was listed by Wire Magazine as one of the Top Jazz and Improv Recordings of 2006 and praised in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Saxophone Journal and other periodicals of note.
With his sophomore release, 'The Sage' (2008), Rigby put forth new compositions designed to spark group improvisation and creative interplay. The recording instantly received stellar reviews, as exemplified by Jim Macnie’s piece in The Village Voice: “… the saxophonist’s quintet sustains a daunting finesse while swinging full tilt on the new 'The Sage.' Imagine Miles’ Filles De Kilimanjaro outfit pumping out some Jazz Messengers’ energy.”
Since moving to New York in 1998 Jason Rigby has performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Aretha Franklin; recorded and toured as a sideman with Cameron Brown, Eivind Opsvik, David Binney, Mark Guiliana, Scott Dubois, Kris Davis, Tony Malaby, and David Liebman; and led his own bands on record and in venues in the US and Europe. Rigby has appeared on occassion with Mike Holober’s Gotham Jazz Orchestra, Alan Ferber's Nonet and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society. In addition to his small ensemble work, Rigby has been a regular member of large ensembles including the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra, Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, Asuka Kakitani Orchestra, Chris Jentsch Ensemble Large and Bill Mobley's Smoke Big Band. |
