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State College, PA

(814) 867-9935

Rick Hirsch is a nationally-known composer, arranger and jazz educator living in State College, PA. Check out his music, book a live jazz band in Central Pennsylvania.

Rudresh plays Rick

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Rudresh plays Rick

Rick Hirsch

It always tickles me to hear recordings of other folks performing music I've written, no matter the experience level of the musicians. But, there is a certain thrill when the person playing the music is one of the leading musicians in the world. 

Here's a recording I just received of progressive alto saxophonist RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA performing my jazz ensemble composition Mirage. When I submitted this piece to the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble Composition contest, I knew that Rudresh would be performing the winning piece(s). And, I was familiar with Rudresh's musical milieu, which includes vocabulary from Indian and other 'exotic' world musics. I had a strong hunch that, should Mirage happen to be selected, Rudresh would soar, taking the music to places beyond my imagination. Which he did. And then some.

Here he is in performance with Professor Mike Titlebaum's Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble. 

    »»  You can view the score and more info on this piece HERE.

Video overview:
0:00   Prof. Titlebaum discusses evaluation process for selecting Mirage as contest winner.
1:00   Music begins
2:00   Rudresh begins interpreting melody
3:30   Pace picks up
5:20   IC student trombone solo (nicely done!)
7:25   Rudresh begins his (fairly mind-blowing) improvisation