Rick Britto is also a well known jazz educator from the New England area. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he is a faculty member at both the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Wheaton College instructing private lessons for saxophone and jazz piano, directing music ensembles and teaching Jazz Theory and African-American Music History. Rick Britto also owns a jazz record label, TrineArc Music and a recording studio, Saurus Studio where he has produce numerous projects for radio, television and a myriad of digital mediums (iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic. etc..)

Degrees

B.M., Berklee College of Music

Main Interests

• Music, Performance, Education
• Jazz, Bebop, Avante Garde, R&B, Soul
• Recording, Producing, Engineering
• Digital Audio, MIDI, Virtual Sampling
• Web Design, Digital Photography, Digital Video
• Digital Video Editing, Digital Photo Restoration
• Computers, Computer Repair

Research Interests

• Jazz Improvisation
• History of Jazz
• Art & History of Popular Music In America
• Electronic Music
• Sampling Technology

Teaching Interests

Faculty member at Wheaton College teaching Saxophone, Jazz Piano, Clarinet, Wheaton Jazz Band Director, Jazz Theory, African Originals II.

Faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth teaching Saxophone-Jazz Studies, UMD Avant-Garde Ensemble and The Art & History of Rock & Roll

A member of Jazz Expressions an educational outreach program presenting jazz to elementary grade school children.

Instructing Old Rochester Regional High School Jazz Band in an after school project, sponsored by the music department's band director to develop improvisational skills.

Other Interests

TrineArc Music is new jazz record label from the Whaling City, New Bedford, MA. started in 2009 by jazz musician and educator, producer and engineer, Rick Britto. Each CD project in the record label's catalog represents a different genre of jazz from Mainstream to Modern Jazz and Avant-Garde/Free Jazz to Contemporary/Smooth Jazz music.

To date, TrineArc Music has 4 CDs available for purchase on iTunes, CD Baby, Rhapsody and eMusic.

TrineArc Music Discography

Britto's latest CD, "For Your Love" is a Contemporary Jazz recording of all fresh and exciting originals songs for lovers to enjoy! The album covers many styles of Contemporary Jazz music crossing from R&B and Soul to Funk and Hip Hop even Reggae and Latin grooves which all make up the foundation of the recording.

 

"Conversations with Erik & I"  is an Avant-Garde/Free Jazz recording that the critics have called one of the most unique CDs of the year 2011! Featuring Rick Britto & Erik Van Dam as a sax duo in an interactive "Conversation" using spontaneous communication between two saxophonists in a free jazz improvisation. The musicians use all the concepts that create an engaging conversation including Discussion, Debate, Small Talk or Chit Chat and Banter!
"Trine +1"is Trine's second recording, featurign Rick Britto; sax, Jim Robitaille; guitar and Chris Poudrier; drums. The group continues further with the trios collective improvisational explorations with the addition of bassist Chris Lopes to the core trio. The musical selections on the CD have the group evolving with a multi- directional compositional palette.

 

"In The Sky" featuring Rick Britto; sax and Matt Richard; piano is mainstream jazz recording of all original compositions by both musicians. From Swing to Bebop and Latin feels this duo all the compositions are sensitive, beautiful and poignant creations that are unique and well conceived.

 

http://SaurusStudio.com

• Rick Britto owns Saurus Studio a recording/production facility in New Bedford (All-Digital Audio & Video, Mastering, Multi-Track, MIDI, VST and more). Producing commercials for radio and television in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
  
• Performing jazz with various local artists (Jim Robitaille, Chris Poudriier, Matt Richard, Herb King, The Skyliners Big Band, Semenya McCord, Shawn Monteiro, Candida Rose, Armstead Christian, Marcelle Gauvin, Andy McWain, Kenny Wenzel, John Harrison, Dave Zinno and more).

• MIDI consultant and systems operator for The Boston Computer Society.
• Adjudicator for All-State Jazz auditions for RIMEA, The Rhode Island Music Educators Association

Publications

Currently working on scoring project for new book by Chris Poudrier on drumming techniques.

CD mastering for the book, Music of South India published by Professor Matthew Allen of Wheaton College released by Oxford University Press.

Scoring for a book by Prof. Paul Asterlitz, "Jazz Consciousness Music, Race, and Humanity" by Wesleyan University Press distributed by University Press of New England.

Creative Works

Recording Credits

Britto's latest CD, "For Your Love" is a Contemporary Jazz recording of all fresh and exciting originals songs for lovers to enjoy! The album covers many styles of Contemporary Jazz music crossing from R&B and Soul to Funk and Hip Hop even Reggae and Latin grooves which all make up the foundation of the recording.

New recording of avante garde saxophone duet with Erik Van Damm and myself, Rick Britto called "Conversation with Erik & I" released on TrineArc Music in Spring 2011..

CD release 2010, "In The Sky" featuring saxophonist, Rick Britto and pianist, Matt Rrichard in their first duo project release on the TrineArc Music label.

CD release 2010, performed, recorded and mastered "Trine +1" for avante garde trio, "Trine", featuring Jim Robitaille; guitar, Rick Britto; saxes, and Chris Poudrier; drum with guest artist Chris Lopes on bass on the TrineArc Music label.

Sept 09 CD release, performed recorded and mastered "One O'clock Jump Live" a 1930's-50's jazz/swing vocal group from an audio tape series of live performances dating back to the 1980s by One O'clock Jump in both concerts and jazz clubs from East to West Coast.

Rick is on a CD release by Andy McWain. The Andy McWain Ensemble: RESEMBLANCE" released Spring 08. It features eight musicians (including Sofia Koutsovitis, Assif Tsahar, Rick Britto, Chris Poudrier, Jeremy Udden, David Landoni, and Albey Balgochian) in various combinations from solo piano, duos, and trios to sextet.

Rick is on a CD release called "Politics" by avante garde jazz trio, "Trine" featuring fellow musicians Jim Robitaille on guitar and Chris Poudrier  on drums released in November 2008 on the Fuller Street Music label.

 

Performances

Have performed in various musical genres, including Classical, Jazz, Rock, R&B, Soul, Theatre.

Performed with Grammy Award winning artists Queen Latifa, Tavares, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Platters, The Tune Weavers, and The Drifters.

Toured nationally with vocal jazz group "One O'Clock Jump" double billed with jazz greats: Buddy Rich Big Band, Jackie and Roy Kraul, Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, The Artie Shaw Band, and The Count Basie Orchetra.

Performing with various local jazz artists (Jim Robitaille, Chris Poudriier, Matt Richard, Herb King, The Skyliners Big Band, Semenya McCord, Armstead Christian, Shawn Monteiro, Marcelle Gauvin, Candida Rose, Andy McWain, Kenny Wenzel, John Harrison, Dave Zinno and more).

Music Director for Gateway Playhouse in Wareham for a season's performance on Cape Cod.

Performed with New Bedford Symphony for special George Gershwin program.

Selected Publications, Creative Work, or Performances

Production Credits

Composed and produced soundtrack for "Earth Day" video for Rhode Island University.

Numerous musical productions for children's theater in the local areas of Fall River and New Bedford.

1979 Award for Best Original Composition by A.R.T.A. (Area Regional Theater Association).

Composed and produced musical soundtrack for video documentary "Profiles Of Living History" for the Black Heritage Foundation of New Bedford funded by The Polaroid Corporation.

Produced commercials for radio or TV for the following local companies:
Pencils, Dartmouth Building Supply, Better Homes of New Bedford, Ralph's Chevrolet Cadillac Geo, First Citizens Federal Credit Union, Dartmouth Mitsubishi

Recording work for various local studios in the New England area including: Midi Plus Studio, Match Inc., Star Trak Studios, Studio A, and Saurus Studio.

Other Recording Credits

Recorded and mastered CD, "Crystal Fortress II to be released this Fall", for pianist and composer Cheryl Conte.

Mastered CD for the Andy McWain Ensemble: Resmeblance
This project features music from two separate recording sessions: one with Assif Tsahar (tenor sax/bass cl), Albey Balgochian (elec upright bass), and Chris Poudrier (dr/perc), with Andy McWain (acoustic piano); and another session with Sofia Koutsovitis (voc), Rick Britto (sax). Jeremy Udden (sax), David Landoni (acoustic bass), and Chris Poudrier (dr/perc) with Andy McWain on elec. piano.

Performed sax on CD, "Holy City" with The Lord's Orphans, best described as a modern day American version of Pink Floyd with a mix of other influences that include Peter Gabriel, late Beatles, The Doors, Alan Parsons Project and Led Zeppelin.

Mastered CD, "Crystal Fortress", for pianist and composer Cheryl Conte.

Recorded and mastered CD, "Politics" for avante garde trio, "Trine", featuring Jim Robitaille; guitar, Rick Britto; saxes, and Chris Poudrier; drum.

Recorded and mastered live CD in concert for classical vocalist, Rachel Weis.

CD mastering for a new book, "Music of South India" published by Professor Matthew Allen of Wheaton College released by Oxford Publishing.

CD mastering and digital restoration for a new compilation CD for Wheaton College's Music Department in honor of retiring professor of music Carlton T. Russel.

Recorded, mastered and co-produced CD, "Harmonious Healings" for Spiritualist Medium, Rev. Gail Hicks.

Performance and song credits on Dan Moretti's second CD release "Saxual" on PAR Records.

Compositions Xumusca and Nova Samba on the Whaling City Sound Super Band CD released by Whaling City Records.

Recorded and mastered CD of dialog and soundtrack for noted photographer Ron Barboza≠s slide show presentation based on the history of Cape Verdean Americans for the "So Sabe Festival" funded by Boston University.

Performance, recording and production of Christian choir "Praise Twice" Choir Master Edward Viveiros, Jr..

Live recording of classical group Cobach Trio, flute, oboe and cello.

Live recording of classical oboist Donna Dreisbach at Grace Episcopal Church of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Recorded and produced meditation CD, "Focus Your Thoughts I", for Dionysius Skaliotis, Doctor of Chinese Medicine.

Digital editing for Brazilian group Searles & Allen, "Time & Again".

Mastering for Spanish vocalist Andres Pena Gomez's release "La Banda Negra".

Mastering for jazz saxophonist Treg Monty's release "No Place To Hide".

Mastering on CD releases "Santa Monica", O Caboverdiano & "Boa Vista"
for Cape Verdean guitarist and cavaquinho player Tazinho.

Recorded and produced first CD release of poetry and music "When The Smoke Clears" for Corey Cokes.

Recorded and produced "Heaven or Hel" for Christian Rap artists B.A.C.

Recorded and produced G. Bruce West's album, "Dream Catcher".

Recorded and produced Country artist Wendi Hayden Davis's record release, "What's Next".

Performance and arranging credits on European release CD by Roberto Culpado.

Recorded and produced music for Edd Kalehoff Productions in New York (music library company).

Performance credits on Joel Hiller's second record release "In The Interest of Soul" for Lobelia Records

Radio & Television Appearances

Ch.10 WCVB on "The Today Show"

Ch.6 WLNE " Sounds of Jazz" hosted by Bob Bassett

Ch.13 "Musician's Showcase" hosted by Carol Defino.

Radio appearance on Boston's WGBH's" Music America" hosted by Ron DelaChiesa.

Radio appearance on Boston's WGBH's "Jazz in the Evening" hosted by Eric Jackson.

Radio appearance on University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth's WUSM

Radio appearance on Brandeis University's WBRS hosted by Marc Leibowitz,

Radio appearance on Newport's WOTB's "Spotlight on Local Artists" hosted by Michael Troy.

Web Design

Designed web site for jazz drummer, Harold Jones
URL: http://haroldjonesbigband.com/

Designed web site for jazz vocalist Semenya McCord,
URL: http://www.semenyamccord.com

Designed web site for jazz vocalist Marcelle Gauvin,
URL: http://www.marcellegauvin.com

Designed web site for spiritualist medium Rev. Gail Hicks,
URL: http://www.gailhicks.com/

Designed web site for World music group, The Dancing Dogs,
URL: http://thedacningdogs.com

Designed web site for Cape Verdean photographer Ron Barboza,
URL: http://home.comcast.net/~ronbarboza/

Designed web site for world/jazz vocalist Candida Rose,
URL: http://goldenrosemusic.com

Consultant for web design of jazz pianist Matt Richard's web site,
URL: http://www.mattrichard.com/

Designed web site for soul/jazz organist Lonnie Gasperini,
URL: http://members.cox.net/lonnie7/

Consultant for web designer Richard Leary's "New Bedford.Com",
URL: http://www.newbedford.com

Design for Saurus Studio web site,
URL: http://SaurusStudio.com

Student Projects

The Wheaton Jazz Band

Composer's Concert Series
This year the Wheaton Jazz Band is performing the musical compositions of some of the greatest jazz masters in American history. As jazz masters, these musicians have dedicated their lives to shaping and advancing the rich tradition of jazz in America as composers too.

We are pleased to celebrate their individual creative talents and their combined musical contributions through their compositions to the world of jazz in this concert series.

The artists represented in this program include jazz masters Charlie "Bird" Parker, Thelonious S. Monk, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Charlie Mingus, Horace Silver and Cedar Walton.

http://way.to/WheatonJazzBand