Rich Halley, born November 25, 1947 in Portland, Oregon, is an American jazz composer and saxophonist. As a leader, he has 15 recordings and is well-known for his fiery playing and asymmetrical rhythmic compositions. Rich Halley Sr. is an economist at Portland State University and Libby Anne Halley a teacher of reading and special education. He spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping. He spent his summers on the family’s Richland, Oregon homestead near the Wallowa Mountains. He discovered jazz at the age of 15 and became a passionate fan. Halley started playing clarinet when he was 11 years old, and tenor-saxophone when he was 15. From 1965 to 1966, he lived in Cairo, Egypt. There he was part of a band that had an international repertoire. He was surrounded by blues music, culture, and the explorations of AACM when he arrived at University of Chicago in 1966. He was a member of Home Juice, which featured Jeff Carp and Jordan Sandke in Chicago. He returned to the West in 1968, where he was a member of Latin bands and rhythm.
