8:00pm • $10 Cover
Rick Whitehead Trio Performing as a trio shortly after the untimely death of Danny Gatton, they immediately discovered their musical compatibility and have produced a tight and cohesive musical unit, resulting in stunning performances. The trio presented a concert in July 2004 at the Washington National Cathedral as part of the Cathedral’s Summer Music Festival. Some of the venues where they have appeared are Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, the Smithsonian’s Jazz Club, the IOTA Club, the John F. Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and, appear on a regular basis at the 219 Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia.
Rick Whitehead - Guitar
Led by master jazz guitarist, Rick Whitehead, the other members of the trio are bassist John Previti and drummer Nick Ruggieri. This highly acclaimed trio has been performing together since 1994. Their first CD, Live in Captivity, won the Washington Area Music Association WAMMIE Award in 1998 for best Contemporary Album. Their second CD, Live in Captivity, Again was released in 2001. In 2004, 2006 and 2007 they were nominated by WAMA as Best Jazz Ensemble. The trio’s third recording So There We Were … was released in July 2006.
John Previti - Bass
has the distinction of receiving the Washington Area Musicians Award in 2002 for best musician in the Metro area. From Southern Maryland, Previti was a long-time member of the Danny Gatton Band. Considered the guitarist’s bass player, he has performed with Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis and Les Paul, and with the great trumpeter, Doc Cheatham. Previti has also recorded with Herb Ellis and Paul Simon. He fronts his own quartet and recently released a new CD, Swinging Lullabyes for My Rosetta, which received rave reviews.
Nick Ruggieri - Drums
Nick attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA, majoring in Percussion Performance. While in Boston, he studied with Fred Budha, Chief Percussionist with the Boston Philharmonic as well as Alan Dawson, the famous Jazz Drummer/Instructor. While attending Berklee, Nick studied with Joe Hunt, the Latin/Jazz drummer with Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as Bob Gulotti, with the the Avant-Garde Jazz Band, The Fringe. Nick recorded and traveled extensively with the Reggae /Ska band, Pacific Orchestra, both on Ras Records and DB Records. Upon returning to the DC area, Nick performed with Mama Jama, a Soca/Calypso and Afro-Pop band from Annapolis MD. He has since played with many area groups in all genres and styles, continuing performance and teaching full time.