Michigan-based Jazz Pianist, Composer, Performer & Educator Rick Roe

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Michigan-based jazz pianist, composer, performer and educator Rick Roe. In this engaging episode, we dive into a dynamic 2025 that saw the release of two standout albums, Wake Up Call and Tribute, the latter celebrating the music of Gregg Hill. A respected force in the southeastern Michigan jazz community, Rick Roe continues to balance performance, composition and education at the highest level.

Over the years, Rick Roe has produced and co-produced more than a dozen recordings featuring original compositions and inventive interpretations of jazz standards. His playing reflects deep roots in straight-ahead jazz while embracing modern harmonic exploration and lyrical improvisation. Roe has shared the stage with legendary figures including Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Frank Morgan, Louis Hayes, Clark Terry, Louis Smith and Rodney Whitaker, underscoring his deep connection to jazz tradition and innovation.

In this conversation, we explore jazz composition, collaborative recording, the Detroit and southeastern Michigan jazz scene, mentorship, music education and sustaining a creative career across decades. If you are a fan of modern jazz piano, hard bop influences, jazz education, Detroit jazz history or contemporary jazz recordings, this episode offers insight into one of the Midwest’s most consistent and accomplished artists.

Discover more about Rick Roe, his albums Wake Up Call and Tribute, tour dates and recordings at https://www.roejazz.com/

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight influential jazz musicians from across the country, celebrating the history, evolution and future of creative jazz through thoughtful interviews and deep musical exploration. 

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