Rick Margitza’s latest album Cheap Thrills, was recorded in 2019 with The South Florida Jazz Orchestra in Miami, Florida; following the invitation from SFJO director, bassist Chuck Bergeron.

Cheap Thrills is Margitza’s first Big Band recorded album, including 9 original compositions and the famous song « Embraceable You » by Gershwin; the album was released on august 28th, 2020, on Summit Records and distributed internationally by MVD Entertainment Group. 

This recording marks the 15th anniversary of the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. The band has released 4 albums of original music and presented many great artists in concert; including Randy Brecker, Janis Siegel, Arturo Sandoval, Wycliffe Gordon, Kevin Mahogany, Wayne Bergeron, Tom Scott, Eddie Daniels, Antonio Adolfo, and the legendary Ira Sullivan. 

FROM RICK 

Like many musicians of my generation, I played in big bands as part of the jazz curriculum in high school and college. Most of us also had an arranging class that required us to study and analyze the scores of the masters, and finally write an arrangement of our own. So in a sense, this project is the culmination of a process that started years ago. When I was in high school and college I had the dream of playing in one of the bands that were still on the road. At tat time, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Toshiko Akyoshi, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, albeit not traveling as much as playing their famous Monday night gig at the Village Vanguard, were still part of the musical landscape.

By the time I was out of college, there were not as many bands on the road. I was lucky enough to play with Maynard in 1985-86, so I did get a taste of the big band road experience. It was my first time on the road and still remember my mother dropping me off at the bus when I met the band in Detroit. It seemed to complete a big arc, as her father had played bass with Glenn Miller. This project is a result of me going to the University of Miami (where I studied in 1982-83) to do a master class and be part of a recording with the SFJO. Chuck had asked me to bring a couple of my charts to be included on the recording. I wasn’t sure which ones would work, so I sent him all of them with the idea that he would choose a couple for the CD. To my pleasant surprise, he asked if I would be interested in doing an entire album of my music. Needless to say, I immediately said yes. Between the time I agreed and the actual recording sessions, I wrote four new arrangements. Going into the studio and hearing the music being brought to life by these incredible musicians was truly an amazing experience. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chuck and the band for investing their time and energy on this project. Also to John Fedchock, whose band I had the fortune to play and record with when I lived in New York, for bringing his expertise into the studio for us. In these times of streaming music, fewer and fewer record labels are willing to invest in any new project, let alone something of this magnitude. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to record and present this project.

– Margitza, 2020

SOUTH FLORIDA JAZZ ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY CHUCK BERGERON

SPECIAL GUESTS: JOHN HART & BRIAN LYNCH

Saxophones & Woodwinds

Gary Keller
Gary Lindsay
Ed Calle
Jason Kush
Mike Brignola

Trumpets

Greg Gisbert
Jason Carder
Alex Norris
Pete Francis
Augie Haas
Jesus Mato
Jared Hall
John Daversa

Trombones

Dante Luciani
John Kricker
Andrew Peal
Major Bailey

Rhythm Section

Martin Bejerano – piano
John Hart – guitar
Chuck Bergeron – acoustic + electric bass
John Yarling – drums

Additional Players

Brian Lynch – featured soloist
David Leon, bari sax and bass clarinet
Phil Doyle – tenor sax
Derek Pyle – trombone
Haden Mapel – trombone
Xavier Desandre Navarre – percussion

Produced by John Fedchock & Rick Margitza