T. J. Ricer

A Big Summer

TJ — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:26:03 +0000

We’re coming to the close of what has been a life-changing summer for me. It began when I received my doctorate at the Eastman School in May and has rolled along up through today. So far, I have become Dr. T. J., been the head judge for an international competition, released a country album, played with a couple of orchestras, gotten married, gone on the honeymoon, become a Yamaha Performing Artist, and submitted my album for Grammy consideration. . . whew.

Here’s one of my favorite shots with my best man, John Elliott:

John and T. J.

And here’s one of my beautiful wife, Sara:

Sara and T. J.

CASH Back on iTunes

TJ — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:05:13 +0000

Hello, All,
The first CASH Back CD, A Tribute to the Man in Black, is now available through iTunes and CD Baby. . . check them out and write us a review!

Also, since people have been asking, Sara and I are registered at Amazon.com and Target. I’m looking forward to seeing many of my friends and family soon!

Two weeks until the wedding!

TJ — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:10:49 +0000

Sara and I will be getting married in two weeks! Thank you to all for the words of congratulations and encouragement; we are both very excited! I’ll make sure to get a wedding picture or two up here after the ceremony. . . For now, here is one of my favorite shots of us:

Sara and T. J. at the Lilac Festival

Two SSOs in one week!

TJ — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:20:21 +0000

I’m in the middle of a good bit of driving right now. . . I played an all John Williams concert with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Ohio on Sunday and I did the first of four patriotic shows with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra yesterday! We’re in Watertown, NY tonight, Auburn, NY tomorrow and at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on the 4th of July! Check out the concert series here (I’ll also be with the Syracuse Symphony Brass Quintet on the 7th and 10th)

Daniel Hege and the SSO

CASH Back CD on CDBaby

TJ — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:14:53 +0000

The CASH Back CD is now available at CDBaby! Enjoy!

Jazz Fest

TJ — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:20:38 +0000

Hello, All!
Sorry for the hiatus between posts, I’ve been recovering from pneumonia since the CASH Back tour to Ohio. . . Speaking of the CASH Back tour, we had a great time! The first night in Piqua we played for over 350 people! Crowds were smaller after that, but no less enthusiastic! We sold our first couple of dozen CDs and I hope, someday, to not have them piled up in my basement. . . They should be available on CDBaby, iTunes, and Amazon downloads with a week or two, I’ll keep you posted.

The Rochester International Jazz Fest is upon us once again! I played last Friday night with the Dave Rivello Ensemble in the “big tent.” The show went great – plenty of people there, we premiered a new tune, and the crowd seemed to dig it.

Next up, we’ve got a CASH Back show over in the Southwedge in Star Alley, beside Lux Lounge tonight (Thursday): http://www.savorourflavor.com/Events.htm

Tomorrow, the Po’ Boys Brass Band will be hitting the Gibbs Street free stage as part of the Jazz Fest at 7 and 9 PM

a new publicity photo

CASH Back coming to Ohio… with an album!

TJ — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:57:16 +0000

CASH Back will be on tour in Ohio Thursday June 3rd-Saturday June 5th. Click on CASH Back above for more information about the band!

Perhaps even more exciting; it looks like we’ll be able to bring our new CD with us! CASH Back: A Tribute to the Man in Black will feature songs covering the past six decades, duets with Sara, and even tunes from Bob Marley and Sting!

It’s Official!

TJ — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:00:02 +0000

I let you all know when I finished up with my degree program, but now it is official. . . I have my doctorate in hand! Below is a picture of me playing contrabass trombone at the Eastman School of Music Graduation in full doctoral regalia:

Contrabass Trombone

CASH Back and Graduation

TJ — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:39:57 +0000

For anyone who has seen CASH Back yet, here are a few more chances:

We’ll be playing this Sunday, May 16th at Abilene Bar and Lounge from 7-11 PM. Abilene is located at 153 Liberty Pole Way in Rochester.

For those of you who have followed us on the web, but haven’t gotten to see us live, we are coming down to Ohio in early June. Right now, shows are confirmed in Dayton on June 3rd and Woodsfield on June 5th. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more info!

The Sunday show is in tribute not only to Johnny Cash (of course), but also to the graduates of the Eastman School of Music. ESM graduation is earlier that day and we hope that this will be a great event for families. . . Each member of CASH back holds at least a Master’s degree in music from the Eastman School. I will be playing my first gig as Dr. T. J. Huzzah!

Allan

Dr. T pities the fool!

TJ — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:34:03 +0000

Well, it is done. As of noon on Monday, April 5th, I have successfully completed my Doctor of Musical Arts degree program! I am the only doctoral student Don Harry has ever had (at the Eastman School or Julliard) and am the first person to receive a tuba DMA from the Eastman School in the new millennium – in fact, I am only the ninth person to recieve a DMA in Tuba in the history of the Eastman School!

Life is really rolling along for me right now: I’ve finished the doctorate, I’ll get married this summer, we’re releasing a CASH Back album soon, both the Dave Rivello Ensemble and the Po’ Boys have been invited back to the Xerox/Rochester International Jazz Festival, and I’m the head judge for the quartet competition at the upcoming International Tuba and Euphonium Conference!