Richard Corpolongo

Biography

Rich Corpolongo has performed
with many of Chicago's top jazz musicians and groups including the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Opera House Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra,
the Auditorium Theatre Orchestra, the Candlelight and Forum Theatre Orchestras.

                  Rich
played solo clarinet under Tom Fabish at St. Mel High School, DePaul University
Concert Band, and Chicago's C. Y. O. Band.  His formal training continued at Roosevelt University where
he acquired a Bachelor and Master of Music Composition degrees. His private
studies included: saxophone improvisation with Joe Daley; clarinet with Joe
Daley and Walter Wollage; flute with Ralph Johnson; composition with Karl Jirak
and Robert Lombardo;  arranging
with Lane Emery; and electronic composition with Don Malone.

              Rich's
jazz group have played extensively around the Chicago area, and have been
showcased at most all of the Chicago Jazz Festivals starting with 1983 and
finishing most recently in 2006.    Besides playing and composing for local talent,
Corpolongo has given clinics at most high schools and colleges in and around
the Chicago area such as: Niles West High School, Rolling Meadows High School,
Elk Grove High School, Wheeling High School, Hersey High School, Waubansee
College, Wright College, Vandercook College, Roosevelt University, Arizona
State University, the Music Educators' National Conference Convention,
Northwestern University, Illinois State University, the ICA Clarinetfest at
DePaul University in Chicago and the Northern Illinois University Clarinet
Cornucopia in Dekalb Illinois.    He also has written four books on improvisation,
"217 Sequences For The Contemporary Musician" and
"Improvisation" a set of three books (Beginning, Intermediate and
Advanced).   

                He
has performed with many legendary jazz musicians such as: Joe Daley, Eddie
Harris, Herbie Hancock, James Moody, Oliver Nelson, and vocalist like: Frank
Sinatra, Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, Billy Ekstine, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, and
musical shows like:  Gypsy,  Applause, I Do I Do, Coco, Irene, How To
Succeed In Business, Hair, Beatlemania, The Wiz, A Little Night Music,
Sophisticated Lady and many more.

Rich can be heard on these albums:

"Spontaneous
Composition" - Rich Corpolongo / Doug Lofstrom / Paul Wertico - (Spoco
Label)

"Sonic Blast" - Joe
Daley / Rich Corpolongo - (Coda Label)

"Look What they've
Done" - Les Hooper - (Creative World Label)

"Chicago Jazz" -
Roger Pemberton - (Original Label)

"Music"  - Doug Lofstrom - (Little Miracles
Label)

"Jazz Inside Out" -
Guy Fricano  - (Forever Jazz
Records)

Public Rehearsals" -
Destiny Quibble And The Street - (Destiny Quibble)

"How Do You Like It So
Far" - Barrett Deems Big Band 
(Delmark CD)

"Just Found Joy"  - Rich Corpolongo Quartet Plus Two -
(Delmark CD)

"Smiles" - Rich
Corpolongo Quartet -  (Delmark CD)

"Swingin In The Big
City"  - John Burnett
Orchestra/Buddy DeFranco - (Chicago Lakeside Jazz)

"D'Rone And DeHaas Sing
Anka" - Frank D'Rone and Geraldine DeHaas - (Phonograph)

"Burning In F and
G" - Doug Blake - (Blake 'N' Blue)

"John Roothaan and Terry
Sullivan" - (Acapulco Stomp)

"The Playground" -
Doug Blake - (Blake 'N' Blue)

 Trinity" - John Moulder Ensemble - (Origin-Records)