Vocalist and keyboardplayer with west coast music touch…
A lifelong Minnesotan whose sound has always focused on a characteristically “Minneapolis” sound, Ricky Peterson is best known for his now 13 year association with saxophone legend David Sanborn and for having written with or played keyboards for Prince on and off since The Artist’s early days on the Twin Cities scene (producing and arranging the song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”). Most recently, he ensembled with Sanborn on Songs from the Night Before and Prince on Emancipation, and also played a big part on George Benson’s recent That’s Right. This is just the icing on a career whose associations either live or in the studio read like a diverse pop and jazz trivia encyclopedia: Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Joe Sample, Sergio Mendes, Morris Day, Phil Upchurch, Fine Young Cannibals, Steve Miller Band, GoGos, Paul Abdul, Boz Scaggs, The Jets, Jermaine Jackson, Rhythm Syndicate, Chaka Khan, Robben Ford, Howard Hewett, Larry Graham, and Windham Hill labelmates Tuck and Patti.
Recording and touring over the years alongside everyone from Prince and David Sanborn to Bonnie Raitt and George Benson, Ricky Peterson learned more than a few things about what it takes to step into the spotlight and be a successful solo artist. First introduced to Windham Hill Jazz fans with single song contributions to popular television shows as well as the Midnight Groove sampler in 1998, the keyboardist makes his full-fledged Windham Hill label debut with the sometimes explosive, often laid back but always melodic and grooving Souvenir. While Peterson’s tunes on those compilations displayed the gentler, more reflective side of his artistry, he adds to that palette on the new album with hard-hitting, edgy tunes that recall his upbringing as a fan of R&B/funk, progressive rock, jazz and blues.
“I pride myself on sophistication and musicality in everything, and I’m most challenged by intricate chord changes even on the simplest tune,” he adds. “I also work on arrangements so that unexpected segments are a given. It’s fun starting out in one place, then taking the song in a new and exciting direction. To me, maintaining the passion for music and expressing my emotions as honestly as possible is what it’s all about.”
Having amassed one of contemporary music’s most star-studded resumes, Peterson always carefully picks and chooses the colleagues he feels are most appropriate to the spirit of the project. Along with family members Paul Peterson (bass, guitar) and Billy Peterson (bass), the Minneapolis based keyboardist ensembles on Souvenir with an exciting cross section of his favorite Los Angeles and New York based jazz/R&B friends-guitarists Robben Ford, Paul Jackson, Jr. and Hiram Bullock, bassist Will Lee, saxmen Dick Oatts, Brandon Fields and David Sanborn, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. Smoky voiced R&B diva Lalah Hathaway does a duet with Ricky on the soaring vocal urban ballad “All I Ask.”
Friend and colleague Ben Sidran put it best when he said of Peterson: “There are two kinds of genius, the kind that is, as the saying goes, 90 percent perspiration, 10 percent inspiration, and the other kind. Ricky Peterson is clearly the other kind, a born singer with a great range, a gifted keyboard player with his own sense of style and literally, a musical force of nature. It’s all music to him. He’s not a rock player trying to learn jazz or a jazz player trying to do rock…He’s able to go into the memory bank and constantly come up with new sounds.”
No matter who he plays with, Peterson brings elements of his trademark sensibilities to each and every project he contributes to. As he says, “Whether I’m working with Prince or George Benson, I bring everything I am to the studio and give them my all. I approach everything in a unique way, from compositions to arrangements, and my harmonization skills are very adaptable. Just as in my own music on Souvenir, I bring a lot of diverse elements to the party.”
Words and photo from the official Ricky Peterson website.
Discography
Under The Radar
Delta Music 2021
Tracks: One For Horace, Under The Radar, Hey Brother, Sit This One Out, Peter, Blue Cadillac, After The Fun, I Think I´ll Be Ok, Love Is The Only Way, Maypo & Fredlip.
Musicians on the Under The Radar album: Ricky Peterson, Willard Peterson, Paul Peterson, Jason Peterson, Tom Peterson, Lee Thornberg & Ira Nepus.
Drop Shot
Delta Music 2018
Tracks: Drop Shot, Feel So Bad, Snakes, I´ve Got News For You, Do For Love, Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself, Full House & Sexy MF.
Musicians on the Drop Shot album: Ricky Peterson, Paul Peterson, Bruno Müller, Gene Lake, Bob Mintzer & WDR Big Band Cologne.
Best Of Vol. 1 & 2
Celebration Records 2010
Tracks: Livin' It Up, Feel So Bad, Look Who's Lonely Now, Sluggo, Take My Heart Away, Do For Love,Put Your Faith In Me, All I Ask of You, May, High Rise Drifter, A Tear Can Tell, Night Watch, Half Life, Drop Shot, Holdin' Back the Years, EJ, Lost In The Stars, I Need Your Love, For All We Know, Proposterphy, Souvenir, Oh Da Mannitee, Song For Lou & Good Bye.
Musicians on the Best Of Vol. 1 & 2 album: Ricky Peterson and others.
Souvenir
Windham Hill Jazz 1999
Tracks: Drop Shot, Do That Again, Can We Still Be Friends, Placid Paul, May, All I Ask Of You, Ignorance Is Bliss, Soft Touch, Song For Lou, Let Me Down Easy, It's Alright & Souvenir.
Musicians on the Souvenir album: Ricky Peterson, Lalah Hathaway, Billy Peterson, Don Allias, Lenny Castro, Michael Bland, Vinnie Colaiuta, Rocky Bryant, Paul Peterson, Tony Axtell, Paul Peterson, Sonny Thompson, Robben Ford, Jim Behringer, Hiram Bullock, Paul Jackson Jr., Dean Brown, Dave Jensen, Brad Shermock, Steven Strand, Kathy Jensen, Dale Mendenhall, Dick Oatts, Jason Peterson Delaire, Brandon Fields, David Sanborn, Michael B. Nelson & Dave Karr.
A Tear Can Tell
Go Jazz Records 1995
Tracks: Jdarling, A Tear Can Tell, Who´ll Be The Fool Tonight, Mr. Williams, Funny Little World, Feel So Bad, Holding Back The Years, For All We Know, EJ & Secret O Life.
Musicians on the A Tear Can Tell album: Ricky Peterson, Brandon Fields, Michael Bland, Statik, Paul Peterson, David Barry, Lenny Castro, Lenny Castro, Jimmy Behringer, Patty Peterson, Jason Peterson, Mike Nelson, Cathy Jensen, David Jensen, Brian Gallagher, Steve Shand, Howard Levy, Robben Ford, Fred Steele, Jevetta Steele, Jerilyn Steele, Willard O. Peterson, Bob Malach & Jeanne Arland Peterson.
Smile Blue
Go Jazz Records 1991
Tracks: Goodbye, Mitch, What You Won´t Do For Love, Half Life, Lost In The Stars, Out Of This World, I Need You Love, I Can´t Think, King Of The World PT. 1 & King Of The World PT. 2.
Musicians on the Smile Blue album: Ricky Peterson, Hiram Bullock, Don Alias, Dick Oatts, Vinny Colaiuta, Paul Peterson, Patty Peterson, Michael Bland, Levi Seacer, Gordy Knudtson, Billy Peterson, Bob Malach, Billy Franze, Eric Leeds, Tom Barnard, Ben Sidran & Leo Sidran.
Nightwatch
Warner Bros 1990
Tracks: One Never Knows, Night Watch, Livin´It Up, High Rise Drifter, Look Who´s Lonely Now, Take A Chance, Put Your Faith In Me, The Crazed Weasel & Take My Heart Away.
Musicians on the Night Watch album: Ricky Peterson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Paul Peterson, Jimmy Behringer, John Pattitucci, Brandon Fields, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Larry Williams, Bill Reichenbach, Gordy Knudtson, Oliver Lieber, Shaun LaBelle, Bob Malach, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach, Levi Seacer, Kenny Garrett, Patty Peterson, Margaret Cox, Billy Franze, J.D. Steele, Robben Ford, Jevetta Steele, Jearyln Steele Battle, Fred Steele, Levi Seacer, Bill Peterson & Don Alias.