"American saxophonist/composer Jason Rigby has this spontaneous capacity to adapt his way of playing to different styles and moods. He is a shape-shifter whose musical approach is a synonym for consistency regardless if he's playing in small groups such as the quartet of Mike Baggetta and Mark Guiliana, or large ensembles like the Alan Ferber Big Band. Rigby leads with resolve, evincing an outgoing posture, compositional bravura, and laudable flair for exploration.
- London Jazz News

Saxophonist and improviser Jason Rigby has created a compelling voice - one that is renowned worldwide - by embracing individuality and a creative direction driven by a focus on quality, patience, and a constant search for new artistic expression. His Zen-like attitude towards art and life inspire his artistic style, which critics claim "brings a fresh, creative spirit to the forum, opening the door to a world in need of musical rejuvenation."    

Having performed as both leader and collaborator at many of the world's top venues, Rigby appears on several critically-acclaimed recordings, several of which have been GRAMMY nominated.

Rigby's work as saxophonist and new composer includes projects leading a variety of ensembles with analog synthesizer, woodwinds, and cello quartet. Rigby has performed his own music with some of the world's top improvisers including Billy Hart, Tom Rainey, Rudy Royston, Thomas Morgan, Kermit Driscoll, Russ Lossing, Mike Baggetta, and Russ Johnson.

For the past several years Rigby has toured and recorded with Mark Guiliana's Jazz Quartet, Space Heroes, and BEAT Music. He has also performed as bandmember with Aretha Franklin, veteran jazz bassist Cameron Brown, award-winning composer/arranger/pianist Mike Holober, improvising trumpeter Dave Ballou, bassist Michael Formanek, drummer George Schuller, bassist Eivind Opsvik, and pianist Kris Davis. His considerable contributions to large ensembles include performances with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Miho Hazama, Alan Ferber, David Binney, Darcy James Argue, Asuka Kakaitani, and Arturo O'Farrill.

An avid pedagogue, Jason Rigby shares his excitement and vision with young artists through a student-focused method. He strives to push each student beyond their boundaries in search of unique means of expression by exploring various musical styles and genres and across disciplines.  As assistant professor of Music  at Towson University, Rigby deftly balances his output as a pedagogue along with touring the world with the aforementioned ensembles.


UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
DATE ENSEMBLE LOCATION VENUE

February 24 Matt Pavolka Brooklyn, NY Bar Bayeaux

May 10 Chris Zuar NY, NY Sheen Center

May 17 Jihye Lee Sao Paolo, Brazil C6 Music Festival

March 14-17 Marcos Varela, Paul Cornish, Jay Sawyer San Francisco, CA Black Cat

April 1

Drew Gress Towson, MD Center for the Performing Arts, TU
May 10 Chris Zuar NY, NY Sheen Center

May 17 Jihye Lee Sao Paolo, Brazil C6 Music Festival


SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet
"The Sound of Listening"
(Edition Records, 2022)
with:
Shai Maestro - piano
Chris Morrissey - bass

Matt Aronoff
"Morning Song"
(Adhyâropa Records, 2022)
with:
Yago Vasquez - rhodes electric piano
Henry Cole - drums
Jason Rigby
"ONE"
(Fresh Sound Records)
with:
Cameron Brown - bass
Gerald Cleaver - drums

Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet
"Jersey"
(Motema Records)
with:
Fabian Almazan - piano
Chris Morrissey - bass

Miho Hazama
"Dancer In Nowhere"
(Sunnyside Records)
*2020 GRAMMY Nominated

Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet
"Family First"
(BEAT Music Productions)
with:
Shai Maestro - piano
Chris Morrissey - bass
Mike Baggetta
"Source Material"
(Fresh Sound Records)
Jason Rigby
"Translucent Space"
(Fresh Sound Records)

PRESS

Stereogum
(MGJQ concert review)
NPR Top 100 Best Songs
(MGJQ)
Feast of Music
(MGJQ concert review)
Jazzwise Magazine
(MGJQ concert review)
The Guardian
(MGJQ concert review)
AllAboutJazz
(concert review)
Chicago Reader
(Jason Rigby - artist feature)
AllAboutJazz
(MGJQ CD review)
Arts Journal
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Jazz In Europe
(MGJQ concert review)
WBGO
(MGJQ CD review)
Ottawa Citizen
(MGJQ concert review)
Jazz Weekly
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Stereophile
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Bird Is The Worm
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
AllAboutJazz
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Gapplegate Music Review
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
London Jazz News
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Jazz Speaks
(Jason Rigby - interview)
Dusted Magazine
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Star Tempest
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Republic of Jazz
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
The Art Music Lounge
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
Midwest Record
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
AllAboutJazz
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)
AllAboutJazz
(Jason Rigby - ONE review)

"The warmth of Rigby's tone and the rigor of his ideas come across even in the stormiest free blowing."
- David R. Adler, Stereophile

"Rigby's burly tone and searching improvisations recall the expressionistic flights of Ornette Coleman and Joe Henderson."
- John Murph, DownBeat

"Rigby flirts with the same stratospheric heights Wayne Shorter explored with Miles."
- J Hunter, AllAboutJazz

"The young saxophonist's 'Translucent Space' gave jitters a good name. The antsy music had enough grace to assuage its attack. That's a best of both world's deal."

"...the saxophonist's quintet sustains a daunting finesse while swinging full tilt on the new 'The Sage'."
- Jim Macnie, The Village Voice

"He blends styles artfully and gives them a tangent and direction that are out of the ordinary and, in doing so, he brings in a perspective that is as exciting as it is satisfying."

"Jason Rigby is a bold adventurous composer and saxophonist."
- Jerry D'Souza, AllAboutJazz

"'Translucent Space' (Fresh Sound-New Talent) the new album by saxophonist and bass clarinetist Jason Rigby, doesn't come by its name casually; it's an album of airy, often diaphonous music, with faint echoes of early fusion and Third Stream."
- Nate Chinen, The New York Times

"Rigby can display a brilliant virtuosity & flexibility while handling some very complex harmonic lines & intervals."

"Bordering on classic mainstream jazz with a touch of viable avante garde' Jason Rigby plus group takes us on a harmonic/melodic sojourn that is nothing short of spectacular."
- George W. Carroll, The Musician's Ombudsman

"A robust tenor/soprano stylist in the classic Post-War mold of John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, Rigby also embraces the harmonically unfettered lyricism of Ornette Coleman. An improviser with a composer's mindset, his concise, linear statements extrapolate the formal constraints of a tune rather than just running the changes."
- Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz

"Rigby brings a fresh, creative spirit to the forum, opening the door to a world in need of musical rejuvenation."
- Jim Santella, Jazz Improv Magazine

"Compositionally, [Rigby] recalls Gil Evans - both focused and all-embracing, and Paul Motian - spacious and Impressionistic."
- Mark Keresman, JazzReview.com

"An arresting debut from multi-reedman Rigby...as a composer and arranger his originality is even more striking...he's created a distinctive, if eclectic, synthesis of Wayne Shorter and Ornette Coleman, with echoes of Paul Motian's trio...One to watch."
- Ray Comiskey, The Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

"Rigby is strong and confident, but he also allows risk-taking, moving comfortably out of the mainstream into freer territories. Given thsi stellar debut, it will be quite interesting to see where Rigby's musical ventures will lead next."
- Mark F. Turner, AllAboutJazz

"...the strength of 'Translucent Space' lies in its coherence, intellect and accessibility - making it one of the year's most remarkable debuts."
- John Kelman, AllAboutJazz


PAST PERFORMANCES

DATE ENSEMBLE LOCATION VENUE
       
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Altindag, Turkey CSO Ada Ankara
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Madrid, Spain Sala Villanos
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Barcelona, Spain Sala Palal-lel 62
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Oslo, Norway Nasjonal Jazzscene
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Milan, Italy Blue Note Milano
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Ferrara, Italy Jazz Club Ferrara
November 2023 Mark Guiliana London, UK EFG London Jazz Festival @ The Jazz Cafe
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Zurich, Switzerland Moods
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Stockholm, Sweden Fasching
November 2023 Mark Guiliana Amsterdam, Netherlands Bimhuis
November 2023 Miho Hazama Davis, CA US Davis, Center for the Arts
November 2023 Miho Hazama Oakland, CA Yoshi's
October 2023 Miho Hazama Santa Cruz, CA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
October 2023 Miho Hazama Los Angeles, CA The Artani Theatre
October 2023 Miho Hazama Costa Mesa, CA Segerstrom Center for the Arts
October 2023 Towson Jazz Faculty Ensemble Towson, MD Towson University, Center for the Performing Arts
September 2023 Mark Guiliana Wilkes-Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center
September 2023 Mark Guiliana Cincinnati, OH Liberty Exhibition Hall
September 2023 Jakob Dreyer Brooklyn, NY Ornithology
Sept 2023 Cameron Brown Nyack, NY Maureen's Jazz Cellar
Sept 2023 Miho Hazama Detroit, MI Detroit Jazz Festival
August 2023 Jazz Composer Series NY, NY The Jazz Gallery
August 2023 Tony Leonardi Tribute Youngstown, OH Youngstown State University, Ford Theater
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Marciac, France I'Astrada
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Paris, France New Morning
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Manchester, UK Band on the Wall
July 2023 Mark Guiliana London, UK Ronnie Scott's
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Pori, Finland Pori Jazz
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Pisa, Italy Pisa Jazz Festival
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Rotterdam, Netherlands North Sea Jazz Festival
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Vilafranca Del Penedes,
Spain
ViJazz Festival
July 2023 Mark Guiliana Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Montreal, Canada Festival International De Jazz De Montreal
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Rochester, NY Rochester Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Ottawa, Canada Ottawa Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Toronto, Canada TD Toronto Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mark Guiliana Wilmington, DE Clifford Brown Jazz Festival
June 2023 Mike Holober Pine Planins, NY Stissing Center
June 2023 Mike Holober NY, NY Greenwich Music House
May 2023 Jared Schonig NY, NY Birdland
April 2023 Mark Guiliana Minneapolis, MN Icehouse
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Chicago, IL Constellation
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Detroit, MI Detroit Symphony Orchestra - THE CUBE
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Baltimore, MD Creative Alliance
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Philadelphia, PA Sloar Myth
March 2023 Mark Guiliana NY, NY The Village Vanguard
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Marlboro, NY The Falcon
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Boston, MA Cafe 939 @ Berklee
March 2023 Mark Guiliana Portsmouth, NH Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Albuquerque, NM The Outpost
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Phoenix, AZ Musical Instrument Museum
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Berkeley, CA The Freight and Salvage
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Los Angeles, CA The Sun Rose
February 2023 Mark Guiliana San Jose, CA San Jose Winter Jazz Fest
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Portland, OR Portland Jazz Festival
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Seattle, WA Triple Door
February 2023 Mark Guiliana Denver, CO Dazzle
January 2023 Mark Guiliana Tokyo, Japan Blue Note Tokyo
January 2023 Miho Hazama Brooklyn, NY

Winter Jazz Fest: National Sawdust

 

November 2022 Jakob Dreyer Brooklyn, NY Ornithology
November 2022 TU Jazz Faculty Towson, MD Center for the Arts
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Berlin, Germany Gretchen
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Brussels, Belgium Flagey
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Utrecht, Netherlands  
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Rotterdam, Netherlands Lantaren Venster
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Milan, Italy Blue Note
October 2022 Mark Guiliana London, UK Jazz Cafe
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Istanbul, Turkey Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Paris, France New Morning
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Clermont-ferrand, France Culture House
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Zurich, Switzerland Moods
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Matera, Italy Auditorium "R. Gervasio"
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Barcelona, Spain La Nau Locales de Ensayo
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Madrid, Spain El Pavón Teatro Kamikaze
October 2022 Mark Guiliana Los Angeles, CA Zebulon
September 2022 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Cafe Erzulie
September 2022 Adam Kolker & Jeremy Stratton Brooklyn, NY Bar Bayeaux
July 2022 Aaron Irwin NY, NY Silvana
July 2022 Matt Pavolka Brooklyn, NY Bar Bayeaux
June 2022 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Cafe Erzulie
June 2022 Matt Aronoff Brooklyn, NY The Owl
May 2022 Mark Guiliana Lawrence, WI Lawrence University
May 2022 Miho Hazama NY, NY Dizzy's Coca Cola Club @ Lincoln Center
May 2022 Jihye Lee NY, NY Jazz Gallery
May 2022 Mike Holober - Balancing Act NY, NY Greenwich House
April 2022 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Cafe Erzulie
April 2022 TU Jazz Faculty w/ Drew Gress Towson, MD Center for the Arts
March 2022 Matt Aronoff NYC 55 Bar
February 2022 Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY Endless Life
February 2022 Mark Guiliana NYC Village Vanguard
January 2022 Mike Holober NYC Birdland
January 2022 Matt Pavolka Brooklyn, NY

Bar Bayeaux

 

December 2021 Mike Holober - Balancing Act Nyack, NY Maureen's Jazz Cellar
December 2021 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Marian's
November 2021 Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY Barbés
November 2021
Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY Bushwick Improvised Music Series
November 2021
Matt Pavolka NY, NY Smalls
November 2021
TU Jazz Faculty Towson, MD Center for the Arts
October 2021
Marco Varela NY, NY 55 Bar
October 2021
Jared Schonig NY, NY Birdland
September 2021
Miho Hazama Monterey, CA Monterey Jazz Festival
September 2021 Remy LeBouf Long Island City, NY
Culture Lab LIC
September 2021 Chris Morrissey NYC 55 Bar
September 2021 Matt Pavolka Brooklyn, NY Bar Bayeaux
September 2021 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Schloss Studios
September 2021 Miho Hazama Monterey, CA Monterey Jazz Festival
August 2021 Cameron Brown Nyack, NY Maureen's Jazz Cellar
August 2021 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Barbés
July 2021 Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY Bushwick Improvised Music Series
July 2021 Mark Guiliana Winona Lake, IN

Winona Lake Jazz Festival

 

March 2020 TU Jazz Faculty Towson, MD Center for the Performing Arts
February 2020 Jeff Davis NYC United Nations International School
February 2020 Miho Hazama NYC The Jazz Standard
February 2020 HEERNT NYC Rockwood Music Hall
January 2020 Mark Guiliana - Space Heroes Brooklyn, NY Winter Jazz Fest - Brooklyn Bowl
January 2020 Mark Guiliana - Jazz Quartet NYC Winter Jazz Fest - Le Poisso Rouge
November 2019 Miho Hazama Brooklyn, NY National Sawdust
November 2019 TU Jazz Faculty Towson, MD Center for the Performing Arts
August 2019 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Barbés
July 2019 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Bar Chord
July 2019 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Barbés
June 2019 Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY I-Beam
June 2019 Marcos Varela NYC The Kitano
May-June 2019 Mark Guiliana - Jazz Quartet NYC The Village Vanguard
May 2019 Fumi TOmita NYC Nublu
April 2019 Miho Hazama NYC The Jazz Standard
April 2019 Mark Guiliana - Space Heroes Galesburg, IL Know-Rootabaga Jazz Festival
April 2019 Mark Guiliana - Space Heroes Iowa City, IA Mission Creek Festival
March 2019 Mark Guiliana - Jazz Quartet St. Louis, MO Jazz St. Louis
March 2019 Mark Guiliana - Space Heroes Quito, Ecuador Ecuador Jazz Festival - Teatro Nacional Sucre
March 2019 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Bar Chord
March 2019 Jeff Davis Brooklyn, NY I-Beam
January 2019 Max Johnson Brooklyn, NY Barbés