For those unaware, Richard Tabnik has been living in New York City since 1979. Between 1975-79, he lived in Buffalo, N.Y. He appeared on radio, television, and in concert with his own groups. He played lead alto in Frank Fosters Big Band at The State University of New York at Buffalo and was a featured soloist at the historic Colored Musicians Club.

The apex of his time there was 2-1/2 years with the Federally-funded [CETA] Buffalo Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Allen Tinney, with whom Charlie Parker played early in his career at Monroes Uptown House.

Prior to this, Richard wrote for and performed in various contexts in Houston, TX., Atlanta, GA., and Providence, R.I., where he had his first jazz gigs under the tutelage of guitarist Tom Brown, who also gave Roy Haynes, the great jazz drummer, his first gig. Richard Tabnik studied with jazz alto saxophonist Lee Konitz from 1970 to 1972.

He had been studying with Connie Crothers since January 1980 up until her death in 2016 and was even presented in concert in her studio soon after that in duos with Peter Scattaretico on drums and Ms. Crothers herself on piano.

His latest album is entitled I Remember Connie and is a tribute to the late Connie Crothers, a performer and recording artist, who always released her deepest feeling — her source — into her music, creating a wide range of expression and a virtuosity; which was based on her desire to discover everything she could hear and imagine through spontaneous improvisation.

1. Angel Glow
2. Wo Ai Ni
3. Still Smiling, Baby
4. My Wishing Star
5. I Remember Connie

Recorded in February of 2017, Tabnik opens his new recording on the impassioned Angel Glow and the elegantly sculpted Wo Ai Ni and then we are gifted the emotively dutiful Still Smiling, Baby, the EP rounding out on the resplendent My Wishing Star, coming to an all-too-soon close on the decadently rousing title cut I Remember Connie.

“I first heard about Connie Crothers while I was still living in Buffalo, NY, Richard explains. “It was November, 1978. The great Jazz Radio Innovator John Hunt invited me to do a memorial radio show for Lennie Tristano, who had just recently passed. Previously, in 1970, I’d had an interview with him but felt that I wasn’t ready and literally spent most of the entire decade preparing to return to study with him. So, when he passed, it hit me very hard.”

“In preparation for the show, I interviewed Lee Konitz by phone and asked if there was any music that might be released in the near future. He mentioned some possibilities; then he directed me to John Snyder, who produced Artists House Records. When I called him, he told me about Connie Crothers, and said that she was an amazing pianist whose record had just been released!”

“So, on the way to WBFO-FM, I stopped into the largest local record store and found “Perception” by Connie Crothers. I will never forget the moment when I first saw that beautiful album cover photo of Connie: I was overcome with the feeling that I wish that I could play with this person someday…”

“I moved to NYC during September, 1979. Fate soon stepped in: all the NYC jazz papers reported that, on January 1, 1980, Connie would be playing at the legendary Village Vanguard with Warne Marsh, Eddie Gomez and Peter Scattaretico! When I walked into the Vanguard, I felt like I had finally come home.”

“As far as this recording goes, I want to thank the band for playing so great! We actually recorded shortly after Connie’s passing, but i couldn’t listen to it until recently; I was just too emotionally devastated by her demise.”

“Playing in The Connie Crothers Quartet was literally a dream come true: we worked weekly for decades on those lines! In every rehearsal, her solos were incredible; it took me a long time to begin to play anywhere near that level.”

PLAYERS, INSTRUMENT:
Richard Tabnik, alto saxophone
Harvey Diamond, piano
Hill Greene, bass
Lou Grassi, drums

Official Purchase Link

Richard Tabnik @ YouTube

Richard Tabnik @ Facebook

www.conniecrothers.net