Rick Margitza

Rick Margitza (born October 24, 1961) 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 sessions for Blue Note Records, and has recorded copiously thereafter, 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 (Blue Note, 1989) U.S. Jazz No. 9
 Hope (Blue Note, 1991) U.S. Jazz No. 11
 This Is New (Blue Note, 1991) U.S. Jazz No. 19
 Second Home with Jeff Gardner (Musidisc, 1995)
 Work It (SteepleChase, 1995)
 Hands of Time (Challenge, 1995)
 Game of Chance (Challenge, 1997)
 Conversations with Bert Van Den Brink (Challenge, 1999)
 Heart of Hearts (Palmetto, 2000)
 Memento (Palmetto, 2001)
 Bohemia (Nocturne, 2004)
 Gypsy Tenor with Tony Lakatos, Gabor Bolla (Skip, 2017)

As sideman
With Miles Davis
 Amandla (Warner Bros., 1989)
 Live Around the World (Warner Bros., 1996)
 Miles in Montreux (Jazz Door, 1993)
 The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux 1973–1991 (Warner Music Switzerland, 2002)

With John Fedchock
 John Fedchock New York Big Band (Reservoir, 1995)
 On the Edge (Reservoir, 1997)
 No Nonsense (Reservoir, 2002)
 Up & Running (Reservoir, 2007)

With Andy LaVerne
 Frozen Music (SteepleChase, 1989)
 Severe Clear (SteepleChase, 1990)
 Serenade to Silver (SteepleChase, 1996)

With Lou Rawls
 It's Supposed to Be Fun (Blue Note, 1990)
 The Legendary Lou Rawls (Capitol, 1991)

With Maria Schneider
 Evanescence (Enja, 1994)
 Coming About (Enja, 1996)
 Allegresse (ArtistShare, 2000)
 Days of Wine and Roses (ArtistShare, 2000)

With others
 Kei Akagi, Mirror Puzzle (AudioQuest 1994)
 Franck Amsallem, A Week in Paris (Nocturne, 2005)
 Burt Bacharach, Blue Note, Plays Burt Bacharach (Blue Note, 2004)
 Bob Belden, Straight to My Heart (Blue Note, 1991)
 Anders Bergcrantz, Live at Sweet Basil (Dragon, 1992)
 Niels Lan Doky, Friendship (Milestone, 1991)
 Dave Douglas, Live at the Bimhuis (Greenleaf, 2005)
 Eliane Elias, Kissed by Nature (Bluebird, 2002)
 Mike Fahn, Close Your Eyes and Listen (Sparky, 2002)
 Maynard Ferguson, Body & Soul (BlackHawk, 1986)
 Eddie Gomez, Next Future (Stretch/GRP, 1993)
 Jimmy Haslip, Arc (GRP, 1993)
 Ellis Marsalis Jr., A Night at Snug Harbor, New Orleans (Somethin' Else 1990)
 Steve Masakowski, What It Was (Blue Note, 1994)
 Ron McClure, Pink Cloud (Naxos, 1997)
 Caecilie Norby, Caecilie Norby (Blue Note, 1995)
 Øyvind Nypan, Republique (Losen, 2013)
 Jarmo Savolainen, First Sight (Timeless, 1992)
 Steps Ahead, Yin-Yang (NYC, 1992)
 Dave Stryker, Blue Degrees (SteepleChase, 1993)
 Trio Toeykeaet, G'day (EmArcy 1993)
 Lenny White, Present Tense (Hip Bop 1995)

References

Category:1961 births
Category:American jazz saxophonists
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:Jazz musicians from Michigan
Category:Wayne State University alumni
Category:University of Miami alumni
Category:Berklee College of Music alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Palmetto Records artists
Category:SteepleChase Records artists
Category:21st-century saxophonists
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:Male jazz musicians