Randy Porter
Pianist, Composer, Educator
Biography
Randy Porter is well known for his fine jazz piano performance. Porter credits Dr. Frank Marks at Humboldt State University for his classical training and musical inspiration. His jazz teachers at New England Conservatory, Fred Hersch and Jaki Baird, along with Art Lande and Butch Lacey, also enhanced his musical scope. As a Steinway Artist, Randy draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. As a jazz musician, Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. Lynn Darroch of The Oregonian states, "Porter has built a reputation as a musician's musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility. . ."
Randy Porter has performed with many jazz greats, including Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Charles McPherson. Porter has toured with the Charles McPherson Quartet throughout the US and in China, Italy and most recently, Greece in 2006, also performing as McPherson's sideman in 2005 at the Chicago and Detroit Jazz Festivals. In addition, the Charles McPherson Quartet has re-created the music from the classic recording Charlie Parker with Strings, performing with many orchestras nationwide.
Porter's varied musical experiences include performing at Seattle's Jazz Alley with New York Voices, Yoshi's in San Francisco with Karrin Allyson, Rebecca Kilgore and Anton Schwartz, Kimball's with Art Farmer and Clifford Jordan, the Hollywood Bowl with Diane Schuur, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Festival with Madeline Eastman, and appearances with the Oregon Symphony. Porter has been a performer and educator at the Port Townsend Jazz Festival for many years where he has played with Ingrid Jensen, Terrell Stafford, Steve Wilson and Maria Schneider. He has also worked several years at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and Jazz Camp West with Madeline Eastman. He has recorded, performed, and toured with singer Gino Vannelli; Porter's pianistic contributions can be heard on Vannelli's CD's, Yonder Tree, Slow Love and Canto. In 2006 Porter served as a band member on Gino Vannelli's Canadian and US tours, playing in such venues as The Detroit Music Hall, The House of Blues in Chicago, and BB King's Blues Club in NYC.
Randy Porter has frequently toured Europe with bassist David Friesen and performed on Friesen's 2004 CD, Live in Stockholm and the 2005 CD, House of Jade (recorded in Poland). Friesen's 2001 Trio CD, Name of a Woman, received 4 stars from Downbeat in June of 2002 and featured Porter as pianist and composer. Porter's own recordings include Brio with John Wiitala on bass and Reinhardt Melz on drums, Modern Reflections with Nancy King on vocals, Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Mel Brown on drums, and Eight Little Feet with Bob Magnusson on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Porter's solo piano artistry can be heard on his Christmas CD, A Midnight Clear.
PERFORMing Experience
Randy Porter has appeared with the following artists:
Charles McPherson |
Gino Vannelli
|
David Friesen
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Ingrid Jensen
|
What The Critics Say
"...Randy Porter, an exceptional pianist whose grace and grit should win him many new friends. Listen!"
– Dr Chuck Berg
"(Randy Porter is). . . possessed of a fabulous technical command of his instrument, which in his case manifests itself not so much in rapid and glitzy runs as in subtler pianistic virtues: gorgeous touch, remarkable independence of left and right hands, and seemingly effortless execution of his harmonically rich musical outpourings."
– Glen Good
"The phrase that hooked me comes at the hands of pianist Randy Porter... As a soloist, Porter is soulful and intelligent."
– Jason West
"I'm impressed with Randy's great confidence, a confidence that allows the music to breathe deeply."
– Chuck Berg
Downbeat; Jazz Times; American Music
Awards
- 4 stars in the June 2002 Downbeat for the David Friesen Trio CD, The Name of a Woman
- Winner of the 1999 Jazziz and Newport Jazz Piano Competition
- Member of the Steinway Concert Artists roster, beginning 1998
- One of ten winners of the 1995 Jazziz "Keyboards on Fire" Competition
- Finalist in the 1986 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition
Teaching Experience
Randy has adjudicated, taught master classes, and been a featured performer in college festivals, clinics, and summer workshops throughout the nation, including the Stanford Jazz Workshop, the Port Townsend Jazz Workshop, Jazz Camp West, Reno Jazz Festival and others. Porter has taught jazz piano, arranging and improvisation classes at University of Nevada, Reno,96-98, University of Oregon 2000-2001, and jazz history at Lewis and Clark College 2003-2004. Porter is currently adjunct faculty at Portland State University, Lewis and Clark College, and George Fox University.
Selected Discography
Jazz
- You Are In My Heart, Krysztof Popek, Piotr Wojtasik, Randy Porter, David Friesen, Joe LaBarbera, 2006
- A Midnight Clear, Randy Porter solo, 2006
- House of Jade, Krzysztof Popek, Piotr Wojtasik, Randy Porter,David Friesen, Victor Lewis,2005
- Liquid Lines, Bob Magnusson Quintet, 2005
- Moon Ray, Rob Thorsen Trio/Quartet, 2005
- Brio, Randy Porter, John Wiitala, Reinhardt Melz, 2004
- Midnight Mood: Live in Stockholm, David Friesen Trio, 2004
- Speed of Life, Madeline Eastman, 2003
- The Art of Falling, Jeff Johnson, Hans Teuber, Billy Mintz, Randy Porter, 2001
- Moments Like This, Rebecca Kilgore, 2001
- The Name of a Woman, David Friesen Tio, 2001
- Eight Little Feet, Randy Porter, Bob Magnusson, Joe LaBarbera, 2000
- Modern Reflections, Randy Porter, Leroy Vinnegar, Mel Brown, Nancy King, 2000
- Castles and Flags, David Friesen, 1999
- Slow Love, Gino Vannelli, 1998
- Unsafe, Alan Jones Sextet, 1998
- Tomorrow's Dreams, David Friesen, 1997
- Yonder Tree, Gino Vannelli, 1995
- 1,2,3 David Friesen, Randy Porter, Alan Jones, 1994
- Forest 4 The Trees, Randy Porter, 1994
- Something Old, Something New, Stephane Grapelli and the Franciscan Chamber Players 1992
- Illusions in Blue, Charles McPherson, 1990
Gospel
- Across the Bridge, Randy Porter and Crystal Gray, 2002
- A Servant's Prayer, Georgene Rice, 1998
