The Rediscovered: Richie Hart

Or is it blues with jazz-drenched phrasing? You be the judge when you listen to Richie Hart's new trio project Blues In The Alley. The CD, which features Hart's guitar with bassist Rick Petrone, drummer Joe Corsello, and special guests Pete Levin (keyboards) and Gerry Niewood (sax), offers jazz/blues instrumentals which cook ("The Fox", "Blues In The Alley") and smolder ("Black Pearls", the classic "Autumn Leaves").. Hart's a solid writer too, as evidenced on originals such as "Fresh Air", "On A High Note", and the aforementioned "Blues In The Alley". An interesting closing track is his "West Side Story Medley", a quick-hitter at three minutes that succinctly displays his abilities in a solo guitar setting - nice! Richie Hart was originally profiled in the December-January, 2004 edition of The Undiscovered.

Richie has been performing and teaching jazz for over 35 years. He has a bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master's Degree from Lehman College. He is presently an Associate Professor of Jazz Guitar at Berklee College of Music. Richie has performed and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz including Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson, Harold Ousley, Houston Person and Etta Jones, Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Danny Stiles, Phil Wilson, and Herb Pomeroy, Roy Hargrove, Lany Willis, Guillermo Franco and Roberta Gambarini, to name a few. The Richie Hart Trio has performed in jazz clubs including the Regatta Bar, Boston, The Blue Note, NYC, the 63rd Street Steak House, NYC as well as at festivals including the Berkshire Jazz Festival.

Hart is a clinician for Guild Guitars and strings and in addition to his position at Berklee, he is currently performing with his trio.

Jim Eigo
United States

Web site: www.geocities.com/RichieHartTrio/