Photo Gallery – Rick Dior

Studio and Live Sessions

For the past 30 years my Studio, Acoustic Barn, has recorded 100’s of wonderful artists, some world famous and some locally famous but all of them spectacular musicians. Here are some pictures of these fine folks in the studio and on location.

Pianist Joey Calderazzo and singer Claudia Acuña

Pianist Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis

Pianist Frank Kimbrough (with Ron Brendle and Al Sergil)

Bassist Reggie Dennis and Rick after a session

Drummer Donnie Marshall with Pianist David Zeltner

Trumpeter Doug Burns and Trombonist Rick Simmerly

Saxophonists Doug Henry and Phil Thompson

My lovely wife Flautist Jennifer at a session

A string session conducted by Alan Kaufman

My wife Jennifer and James Taylor after a gig we played with him

Rick and the great Trombonist Fred Wesley of James Browns Band

Saxophonist Chad Ebey and Bassist Steve Haines

Blues Singer Fred Jackson and Bassist Gerard Benson

Singer Barbera Lewis and Drummer Bill Lewis

The band from the Will Campbell Recording Think Tank

Rick and Rob Hunter, Branford Marsalis Road engineer

Rick, Harry Connick Jr. and Branford after a session

Jeff Watts, Eric Revis, Joey Calderazzo and Branford from the Marsalis Recording Braggtown

Rick, Adonis Rose, John Brown, Cyrus Chesnut During a Cyrus Chesnut Session

Delfeayo Marsalis, Oliver Lake, Terrell Stafford and Herman Berney

Scott Sawyer, Willie Pickens, Rick, John Brown and Ed Thigpen

Bill Lewis, Jon Thornton, Ron Brendle, Barbera Lewis, Daryl Monteith and Gary Marcus

Mike Williams, Sylvain Leroux, Mike Spiro

Jon Thornton, Mark Stallings, Rick, John Alexander and Ron Brendle

A studio session with Pianist Chad Lawson, Bassist Nelson Rios and Saxophonist Ziad Rabie

Loonis McGlohon with his lovely wife Nan

A String Section recording with CSO players

Mira Frisch and pianist/composer Stephen Anderson

Duo 21, John Allemeier with Anna Cromwell and Mira Frisch

Live Gigs

Jazz at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. This Jazz Series has been going on since 2010

Rick with Maria Howell, my favorite local jazz singer. I have been playing with her since 1998.She was the gospel singer in the Color Purple

Rick and Russell Malone after a Gig with him at the Knight Theatre in Charlotte.

View from the back of the drums at the Bechtler

Another Russel Malone gig with- L to R- Ron Brendle, bass, Noel Freidline, Piano and Ziad Rabie, Sax

Big Band Gig at Spirit Square for the performing Arts

Pianist Cyrus Chesnut, Ron Brendle and Rick at a jazz church service.

Harold Danko, Clay Matthews, Rich Perry and Rick playing a concert.

Sax great Rich Perry and Rick after a concert

John Alexander, Tyronne Jefferson Rick, Roberto Alverez and Sendy Mendez with the Charlotte Symphony Circa 2004

This is the Blumenthal Arts Center in Charlotte where the Charlotte Symphony performs.

Singer Steve Lipea, Rick and Grammy award winner Victor Vanacore after a concert

A Jazz Christmas concert with the symphony

Rick and Bill Congdon educate a new generation of percussionists

Rick and pianist Harold Danko after a concert

A symphony pops concert with the drums upfront.

London Trip

In 2018 I travelled to London to perform a residency with the National Youth Orchestra. This incredible group of 160 musicians performed my percussion ensemble work Science Fiction with film. Originally composed for 13 percussionists I reorchestrated the piece for full orchestra. Here are some pictures from that trip.

Percussionists of the NYO talk about performing Science Fiction

Charlotte Symphony Pictures

I began playing in this orchestra in 1990. Here are a few pictures from the biggest band I play with.

Rick and Evelyn Glennie after a concert.

Carol Stumph, Rick, Bill Congdon, Jim Ulackey, Christopher Deane, Peyton Becton and Ed Nagel

Peyton Becton, Harold Jones, Rick and Jim Ulackey

Rick rings the bell for some contemporary piece he can’t remember

Percussionists Bill Congdon, Rick, Doug Howard and Brice Burton after a concert

The CSO setup for John Corigliano’s Symphony #1 in 2022

The CSO Percussion section after a performance of Corigliano Symphony #1 in2022

Former CSO timpanist Leonardo Soto, now the Houston Symphony’s principal timpanist

The Horn Bobs, Bob Blalock and Bob Rydel

Opera Carolina percussion section 2020- Carol Stumph, Rick, Bill Congdon and Stephanie Wilson

My good friend, retired band director and now usher, Harry Owens

Rick and Leo Soto prepare to feast at the CSO principal percussion auditions

John Jarrell with the middle finger cactus he gifted me

The view from the stage South Park, summer 2022

UNCC Students

I have been teaching at this university since 2000. Here are some pictures of my studio percussionists from several different years.

L-R- Renae White, Kyle Stienmetz, Taylor Caton, Matt Curl, Justin Blackwood, Tom Reeves, Patrick McGinty, Trevor Cook, Meredith Butterworth and Ryan Ramerez ,2012

Tom Reeves, Trevor Cook, Brian, Nick Nicholes, Me, Drew, Kyle Stienmetz, Meredith Butterworth, Katelyn Reinhart -2010

Alex Johnston, Ryan Comley, Daniel Ferreira, Raven Pfeiffer, Evan Corey, John Pickett-2020

Trevor Cook, Taylor Caton, Nick Nicholes, Nate, Jake Bohan, Drew Johnson, Renae White, Walker Deese, Eddie Bender, Katelyn Reinhardt- Student reunion 2018

Henry Davis, Justin Blackwood, Amanda, Drew Johnson, Matt Curl, Pat McGinty, Dan Taylor, Taylor Caton, Renae White, ??? and Eve- 2006

Private Students

Here are some of my private students from over the years

Charlotte Youth Symphony Percussion Section 2004, Patrick Hanna, John Leopold, Lee Bemis, Unknown, Rick,Unknown

Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Percussion Section 2006, Colleen Wheelahan, Katheryn, Mike D Angelo, Patrick Hanna, Tom Reeves

Andy Denicola Retirement Dinner

In June 2023 over 400 former students, educators and admirers gathered to celebrate the Great Andy Denicola. “Dean” as he is known to just about everyone was the band director at John P. Stevens High School in Edison NJ for 50 years. He was my HS band director and had a lasting effect on me and my music career.