Richard Giddens has been promoted within the Department of Music as the new Director of Jazz Studies, transitioning from his former position as a Fresno State professor of music.

Giddens’s specialty areas include jazz string bass and jazz combo.

“A highly skilled performer and teacher with international performance experience, Richard brings tremendous energy to our department and we are very excited about having him join us as our new Director of Jazz Studies,” said Dr. Matthew Darling, chair of the Department of Music.

A Fresno native bassist, Giddens has performed throughout the world with artists such as Charlie Haden, STOMP, Ben Wendel, Walter Smith III, The Lost and Found Orchestra, Robert Glasper, Wadada Leo Smith, Larry Goldings, Ideal Bread, Burning Ghosts, Joe LaBarbara, Mary Halvorson and many others. He is also a Tzadik and Orenda Records recording artist with debut album “Mimosas” featuring Matt Otto, Adam Benjamin, Storm Nilson and Tomas Fujiwara out now.

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