Part 6/14:
A pivotal encounter came in Boston when Rick discovered the exceptional talent of student musicians at Berklee College of Music. Watching performances by Iden Essen, a Turkish jazz musician, and Donnie McCaslin, a talented saxophonist, profoundly influenced him. Iden’s improvisational style, in particular, inspired Rick’s approach to music and laid the groundwork for his later work with children, introducing them to improvisation and jazz concepts.