"Music washes away the dust of every day life."--Art Blakey

Wise words from a jazz legend. Keeping music alive keeps us alive. We now ask that you help keep the music of Rick Stone alive.

Rick is one of New York City's most treasured jazz guitarists. For more than four decades he has taught, performed and inspired many to keep jazz alive. 

In March, Rick was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Rick first thought to fight off the illness before he was partially paralyzed. Knowing he would never play again, he chose to live out his time working to organize his vast treasure trove of unreleased recordings.

Now it is time for us to provide Rick with the same support he has given to the music community.

The Legacy: Preserving the Music

With your help we can release a series of recordings over the next two years, as well as archive hundreds of hours of additional recordings for students of jazz. 

This includes studio sessions, live performances from New York City venues, rare recordings from Rick’s time in Italy and more.

So many have already come together to support this project. On June 11, dozens of New York City's most esteemed musicians participated in a never-before-seen collaboration to play Rick's original music at the legendary Bar Next Door. The event kicked off this campaign and raised the seed money to start this project and now others are joining in:

• Nick Moran is producing the recordings and developing a dedicated music archive
• Ann Braithewaite is donating her services for PR and promotion
• Mark Elf is donating his radio promotion services
• Carol Leven is managing fundraising for the project

• As many as five CDs will be released in the next two years
• Proceeds of the CDs will go to support Rick's family
• Additional funding will help grow Rick's teaching legacy through support of jazzguitarlessons.com, a platform he launched to rave reviews

Though many are donating their time, there will be costs. Rights to use the music, mixing and mastering, CD production and distribution costs. Without your support this wonderful music will never be shared with the public

The Collaboration: Appreciating the Musician

The Gift: Supporting the Music

Rick has said that what he values most is the music. It is what we value, too. Staying authentic. Keeping it real. Making music against the odds in New York takes dedication, passion, humor, creativity, and humility. 

Whether musician or fan, by keeping Rick's music alive we keep a part of ourselves alive.

Without your support this vast resource cannot be shared. Hundreds of hours of inspiring music will be lost at a time when keeping jazz alive is more important than ever. Please join us by participating directly in the release of Rick Stone's music and the preservation of a relevant jazz legacy.

Thank you!