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 served as production assistant with film
composer Carol Nethen. He also sang and played keyboards with
bands in Baltimore MD and Washington DC during this period.
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 is unfortunately out-of-print,
features him on saxophones, keyboards, drum programming, and
vocals. Lenny also earned Grammy consideration in several
categories for this project.
Building upon his solo success, Lenny established credentials as
a creative and versatile sideman on more than 50 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. He has taught jazz at Central Washington University,
where Lenny held the title of Special Assistant in Jazz, and
also taught 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 was recently accepted into the
Producer & Engineer Wing of that organization. He is also an
affiliated songwriter and publisher (Pricesongs Music) with
Broadcast Music Inc (BMI).
Lenny is hard at work on two projects scheduled for release in
2010. Stay tuned...
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*Additional artist
information courtesy of All Music Guide