Marcus Garvey Park

Richard Clements - Solo Piano
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, pianist Richard Clements studied music at Sacramento State University before moving in 1981 to New York, where he began working with such notable artists as Clifford Jordan, Vernel Fournier, Charli Persip, Dizzy Reece, C-Sharpe, Abbey Lincoln and Ricky Ford. From 1989-1994, he was Director of the Vocal Workshop at the University of the Streets, and in 1995, he began an association with Archie Shepp that brought him to Europe and Japan. He moved to Paris in 1997 and continued to work and record with Shepp, and scored a film for Melvin Van Peebles, before returning to New York in 2001. A student and close associate of the late great Barry Harris, Clements is an esteemed player and a longtime member of the house band at the 11th Street Bar's Monday night jam.

Presented with the Jazz Foundation of America, supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.