Throughout the 1970's, Jerry Rizzi was bassist for the famed NY guitarist Joe Monk and shared a teaching studio with him. Mr. Rizzi also studied cello with Mr. Benstock at Hofstra University. He also was privileged to study bass with Jimmy Garrison, a member of the legendary John Coltrain Quartet.

During the 1980's, Jerry Rizzi lived in Dallas, Texas where he was very active in the regional music scene as a performer and recording artist. It was during these years that he dedicated himself to creating the distinctive combination of classical-chamber and jazz music elements.

From December of 1991 to winter of 1997, Jerry Rizzi lived in New York, where he frequently performed as well as recorded. At present he resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, composing, recording and performing.

Jerry Rizzi's classical-chamber pieces include A Quiet Grey(1993) and Inclination(1994) both commisioned and premiered by the world renowned clarinet duo of Stanley Drucker (1st clarinetist of the New York philharmonic) and Naomi Drucker, accompanied by Mr. Rizzi on Bass guitar. These two works along with Contrasts and Forbidden Kiss demonstrate Mr. Rizzi's mastery of blending of classical-chamber and Jazz colorings.

The composer's 1996 ballet, Wakened Dreams also demonstrates his mastery of these elements. The work was commissioned and premiered by Circle of Dance Repertory Company in August 1996 at Long Island's Chapin Lakeside Theater, and is featured on his Turn of the Century CD. 1996 also brought Woodwind Quintet No. 1, Autumn's Passage, commissioned by 4 Winds and a Horn. The piece was given its world premiere in December 1996 as part of an all-Rizzi concert at Gillary Gallery Concert Salon on Long Island. 4 Winds and a Horn gave the work its New York City premiere in February 1997 at Trinity Church in Manhattan and have performed the work many other times around the New York Metropolitan area since then. His Woodwind quintet No. 2, Summer Cadence and Woodwind quintet No. 3, Winter Apon Us have been given their World Promieres in 1998 and have also been performed several times since then. The second movements of Autumn's Passage and Summer Cadence are featured on Turn of the Century with poetry readings. Mr. Rizzi's orchestral composition, Resolution Suite, was premeired in 1989 by the Chattanooga Symphony, He shared the bill with Emanual Borak, principal violinist for the Dallas Symphony. Both were featured artists from Dallas, Texas.

Jerry Rizzi has also enjoyed a long-term relationship with the American Chamber Ensemble, which premiered his Short Stories, trio for oboe, clarinet and cello in 1995. He has been involved with the American Chamber Ensemble in at leasr one concert a year since 1993.