Tabnik, Richard (Charles), alto Saxophone, composer, teacher; born in Manhattan, NY on 6 April 1952. In 1953, his family moved to Great Neck. He lived there until the age of 19 years. His father, Lewis J. Tabnik was born in NY, NY on 1/20/17 and died six years later in Long Island. His mother, Sara (Siegel) Tabnik was born in NY, NY on 6/11/20 and lives on Long Island. Martin Ely Tabnik is his brother and he was born in NY, NY on 10/21/46. He lives on Long Island. Richard was electrified by jazz improvising for the first time when he saw two students present their original movie in 2nd grade. The visual consisted of abstract colors and a black line running through it. However, the music was LennieTristano’s Line Up. In the fifth grade, he learned alto saxophone from Dr. Howard Cleave. He also managed the school’s marching band and concert band. Richard was inspired by Neil Rosengarden, the son of Bobby Rosengarden, who improvised some of his first moves. Dr. Wallace Chang was his music teacher in seventh grade. He taught him how to play the ukelele and helped him learn the chords by writing the notes on the keys. At the age of 15, he formed his first band, learning to play guitar, bass guitar and drums. He was able to have a band that still exists today. He was originally a rock keyboardist and jazz saxophonist. This was a time when music was essential and bands were everywhere. In his senior year of high school, he played the baritone saxophone. He was more interested in improvising than reading. Richard was friends with Lennie Tristano and Lee Konitz and started his studies with Mr. Konitz at 6/70 until 1/72. Hall Overton taught him piano and jazz theory from 9/70-12/70. He also took ARP Synthesizer classes at The New School for Social Research, 9/70-6/71. Sid Torin, the jazz DJ and ‘Symphony,’ was another influence. He played tracks such as ‘Line Up’ on the radio, as well as Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, etc. al. He moved to Providence, RI in January 1972. There he performed with Tom Brown, the guitarist who gave Roy Haynes his first Boston gig. He moved to Boston, MA in September 1972 and attended the Berklee College of Music one semester. After performing in, writing and arranging for bands in Harrisburg (PA), Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, and finally Buffalo, NY in 1975, he moved to Buffalo. John Sedola (saxophone and flute; taught Don Menza and Bobby Militello…9/75 through 6/78), Ray Ricker (jazz theory and jazz pedagogy), Russell Messina, (voice…1/78 through 6/78), James Pyne, (clarinet; Buffalo Philharmonic…9/77 thru 6/78), and Dr. Michael Nascimben, (saxophone); formerly with SUNYAB and Amherst Saxophone Quartet…9/78 and 8/79 to 8/79), and Robert Dick, extended techniques…8/78 and 8/79), and Robert Dick (8/78 to 9/79), and 8/79), respectively. From 7/75 to 6/77, he also studied independently at Empire State College (SUNY). Joe Allard, a professor of clarinet and saxophone at the New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music and Julliard, taught him. From September 1979 to June 1981, he was with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, under the direction Of Toscanini. From January 1980 to June 1981, he studied flute with Harold Bennett (professor at Julliard and MSM of flute; performance w/ Metropolitan Opera). Richard Tabnik was born in New York City and has lived there since 1979. Richard Tabnik was born in Buffalo, N.Y., between 1975 and 1979. He was a radio personality, a television presenter, and a concert pianist with his own bands. From January 1980 to June 2000, he studied with Connie Crothers. Soon after, he was presented in concert in her studio with Peter Scattaretico (drums) and Ms. Crothers (piano). While he lived in Buffalo, N.Y., he appeared on local radio, television, and in various gigs and concerts with his own groups as well as in the groups of other leaders such as bassist/guitarist/composer Gerry Eastman and the Big Band of Elvin Sheppard, who was the main teacher of Grover Washington, Jr. Richard played alto saxophone in Frank Foster’s Big Band at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNYAB) for one year, and became a featured soloist at the historic Colored Musicians Club in big bands, small groups and jam sessions. He also had his own bands. His time in Buffalo culminated in 2-1/2 years with Buffalo’s Federally-Funded (CETA) Buffalo Jazz Ensemble. This was under the leadership of jazz pianist Allen Tinney. Charlie Parker and Max Roach met at Monroe’s Uptown House, Harlem, early in their careers. From 9/76 to 6/77, he also taught Jazz Improvising at State University of NY at Buffalo. He moved to New York in 1979 and attended the CUNY-802 program (9/80-6/81). He was also accepted at Manhattan School of Music (6/81) although he declined to enroll as he was currently studying jazz improvising alongside Connie Crothers. Richard first saw Connie Crothers in January 1980 at the Village Vanguard in NYC. He then began a 20-year-long study of jazz improvising. He appeared in the 1980’s with his own jazz trio, Mr. Scattaretico on drums, Harvie Swartz on bass, and his own quartet with pianist Billy Lester and Bassist Calvin Hill at Eric in NYC. Also at Mercy College’s Fall Music Series with Frank Canino. He was also a featured soloist in the Brooklyn College Big Band, under Pete Yellin, and with the Gerry Eastman Contemporary Composer’s Orchestra at Soundscape. He was a member of a jazz duo that performed at the CBS-owned American Charcuterie on W.52nd St. for a month with George Ziskind (one of Tristano’s earliest students in Chicago). Richard was part of the JazzWind Trio with Fran Canisius playing flute and Bill Payne playing clarinet. He was part of a trio at the Yonkers Summer Jazz Series, with Earl Sauls on bass and Bob Arthurs on trumpet. He studied jazz piano with Liz Gorrill (88-6/88) as well as with Ms. Crothers (1990-92). He has performed with Ms. Crothers in both duo and quartet. They performed with Carol Tristano (drums) and Calvin Hill (bass) at Greenwich House, NYC on April 6, 1989. On January 11, 1990, Mr. Tabnik was accompanied by Ms. Tristano at Greenwich House and Mr. Hill later in the year. On February 9, 1991, he was a solo performer at Greenwich House. He was a member of the 1995 quartet that included Michael Gold, Michael Gold, and Harvey Diamond. Richard currently plays in a quartet along with Roger Mancuso and Connie Crothers. Other bassists include Sean Smith, Ed Broderick and Hill Green. al. They played at Trumpets Montclair, NJ in 1994. They performed at La Belle Epocque in NYC, 1995/6 and were cited by the Village Voice’s Voice Choice section. In 1997 and 1998, they appeared at Cleopatra’s Needle in NYC. In 1998, the Richard Tabnik Trio performed at the Internet Cafe in NYC and Greenwich Cafe in NYC. He also started “Jazz at High Noon” at that cafe. The Richard Tabnik Trio performed at El Lobo Negro Art Gallery in Asbury Park, NJ, Birdland NYC (with McCutcheon d. Broderick, bass), Internet Cafe NYC and Red Bank NJ. They also webcast their gig. CCQt performed at Roulette and Birdland and started playing with Ratzo Harris, the bassist. They performed with Mark Weber at the Outpost in Albuquerque and at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City in 2001. CCQt was in Estonia and Sweden in 2002 with Ulf Ackerheilm (bass) and Andy Fite (guitar). Also, a performance with Mark Weber at Lotus Music and Dance in NYC (Cooler in The Shade) in 2003. They were at St. Peter’s Church’s Pres Tribute. They will be performing with Harry Schulz, singer at Harrison Faust Pianos NYC, at Smalls and again with Mark Weber Albuquerque. Richard Tabnik teaches jazz improvising. From http://www.jazz.com
