RICK ZELINSKY
is a saxophone artist and teaches band in the Anchorage School District and saxophone at the University of Alaska. After receiving full saxophone scholarships for both undergraduate & graduate degrees, he received a B.A. in Music Performance from Cleveland State University and Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Akron. Rick has been accepted into Doctorate program for saxophone at the University of Indiana.
Rick plays regularly at Anchorage’s SubZero, Sullivan’s and the Tap Root venues (see: www.IcyGrooves.com). He’s founder and director of the state’s popular summer band program (www.AlaskaBand.com) celebrating it’s 12th anniversary (2012). Rick plays sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones; eb, soprano, alto & bass clarinets; midi wind controller and enjoys playing both jazz and classical music.
Since fall 2009, Rick has lead his own series of concerts, “Tribute to the Jazz Masters,” named by the Anchorage Daily News as “Best of” entertainment in Anchorage, and features the music of past and present giants of jazz such as Cannonball & Nat Adderley, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Since the fall of 2010, the concerts have been performed at Anchorage’s Tap Root venue.
Some of Rick’s recent highlights: performed with jazz greats, Eddie Palmieri, piano and trumpeter, Brian Lynch; musician in Broadway show, “Chicago;” saxophonist with the internationally known “Blues Brothers;” guest saxophone soloist with Alaska Chamber Singers; saxophone soloist with country star, T.Graham Brown; featured soloist on CD releases for Alaskan pianist, Dan McElrath, and trumpet artist, Yngvil Vatn Guttu. Rick also teaches Monday evening Buddhist meditation classes open to all striving for inner peace to help all living beings. (www.MeditateInAlaska.org)
Upcoming “Jazz Masters” 2012 at Tap Root, Anchorage, AK 8pm:
May 24: Music of Horace Silver
August 23: Best of 2011-12 Jazz Masters
Words of praise for the Tribute to the Jazz Masters series:
“As one listened to this band one heard a regular succession of waves of close listening followed by bursts of enthusiasm. It was a near-perfect combination of the casual experience of a club and the high-level musicianship of a concert.”
-Mike Dunham - Anchorage Daily News