Lenny Price is a saxophonist, singer-songwriter, arranger,
music educator and clinician.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he began his musical life showing
great promise on clarinet and oboe before finally discovering his true
love -- the saxophone. He gained proficiency rather quickly and was
strongly influenced by
Grover Washington Jr,
David Sanborn, and
Maceo Parker. His music teachers have included
Marcus Belgrave, Dr. Harold Arnoldi, Joseph Brooks, and Dr. Shirley
Diamond.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from the
U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis MD), Lenny resumed
his musical career singing and playing keyboards with bands in Baltimore
MD and Washington DC. In 1986 he returned to Metro Detroit on a
mission to make up for lost time in his chosen profession.
Lenny teamed up with engineer Mike Moore to record four
original compositions in late 1989. The result was his debut solo
recording From My Heart (Midshipman 9001). The self-produced
release, which has sold thousands of units to date, features him on
saxophones, keyboards, drum programming, and vocals.
Building upon his solo success, Lenny established
credentials as a creative and versatile sideman on recordings with a wide
variety of artists including
The Four Tops (Motown),
Randy Crawford (Warner Bros.) and
David Peaston (MCA). He has also performed
as a sideman with
Keith Washington,
Tamia,
Ortheia Barnes,
Millie Scott,
Jake Reichbart, and many others. So far,
Lenny considers his ongoing touring and recording with Grammy-winner
Earl Klugh to be the highlight of his career.
In 2001, Lenny took advantage of a break in his touring
schedule to teach jazz studies at Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor
MI). In the fall that same year, he accepted the post of
Instrumental Music Program Coordinator for St. Peter Lutheran Day School
(Plymouth MI). This position required Lenny to create a band program
from scratch and provide individualized instruction for flute, clarinet,
oboe, trumpet, and percussion students.
After relocating from Detroit in September 2004, Lenny
continues to strengthen his credentials as a music educator in the Pacific
Northwest by teaching private lessons, presenting workshops and clinics
for students from middle school through university level. Since 2005, he
has taught jazz at Central Washington University, where Lenny recently
held the title of Special Assistant in Jazz, and is also on the faculty of
Yakima Valley Community College. "Excellence is expected, commitment is
required," he tells his students; these words clearly express his approach
to learning and teaching music. Lenny is also close to completing a post
baccalaureate degree in music.
In the
tradition established by Dr. Donald Byrd & the Blackbyrds, Lenny formed
the Galileo Quartet as an advanced "student" ensemble at Central
Washington University. Shortly after performing at the 2005 Montreux Jazz
Festival in Switzerland, the group released their debut CD, Live at the
Starlight, and evolved into one of the hottest jazz acts in the
region.
In additional to maintaining voting membership in the
Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy (the folks who present
the Grammy Awards), Lenny is also an affiliated songwriter and publisher
(Pricesongs Music) with Broadcast Music Inc (BMI).
*Additional artist
information courtesy of All Music Guide
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