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Rick McLaughlin

Prolific bassist/composer Rick McLaughlin performs and records with a number of Boston�s all-star ensembles including the Grammy-nominated Either/Orchestra and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra. He has also performed in concert halls and jazz clubs around the world. Once called "one of my favorite bassists" by the legendary George Russell, he also leads the versatile Rick McLaughlin Trio. With a repertoire ranging from original compositions to Ellington standards to an arrangement of the second movement of the Ravel string quartet, the Rick McLaughlin Trio puts a modern spin on the drummer-less trio format made famous by groups like the Jimmy Guiffre 3 and the Oscar Peterson Trio on their critically acclaimed 2003 debut, Study of Light (Accurate).

A contributing writer for DrumPRO magazines, McLaughlin is a freelance bassist/composer who has performed with musicians like Mulatu Astatke, Don Byron, Mick Goodrick, Steve Lacy, John Medeski, Bob Moses, Danillo Perez, John Zorn, and the rock band Morphine, among many others, in concerts throughout the United States and Europe, Thailand, Ethiopia and Uganda. Along with his debut as a leader, McLaughlin's recent discography includes the Either/Orchestra's Ethiopiques 20: Live in Addis (Buda Musique), Peter Kenegy's Little Machines (Fresh Sound/New Talent), and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra's A Celebration of Spirit (CIMP Records).

Rick McLaughlin Trio: Study of Light

Read "Study of Light" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
November 4, 2003

It’s not chamber music just because you play it without a drummer; it could be jazz even though it was written by Ravel. That statement might be too long to be a title for bassist Rick McLaughlin's new trio disc, but it certainly is accurate. McLaughlin employs two fellow members of Boston’s Either/Orchestra, pianist Greg Burk and saxophonist Jeremy Udden, to realize this recording.

The disc opens with the difficult “Assev Vif - Très Rhythmé.” Ravel’s piece for ...

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Album Review

Rick McLaughlin: Study of Light

Read "Study of Light" reviewed by Matt Merewitz

by Matt Merewitz
October 8, 2003

Study of Light has truly accomplished its goal in exposing these three players in the most natural shades of light that could be imagined. The freeness of "Ink" and "Colors of Chloe" evoke a feeling of light slowly falling onto the musicians like a waterfall onto lilypads. You can imagine them in all black playing in the darkness and slowly emerging from the darkness into a glorious mountain pasture as they reach climaxes.

However, bassist Rick McLaughlin ...

Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

Boston

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

In addition to having a private bass studio, I am a member of the New England Conservatory faculty, teaching theory and history classes, coaching jazz ensembles and giving private bass lessons to musicians of all ages.