Ross Margitza
Upcoming Album, 'Discovery'
Featuring Joel Frahm and The Soha Quartet
Private Advance Listening
Official Release: October 2nd, 2026
Please keep this page private until the album's official release on October 2nd, 2026.
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Thank you for taking the time to listen. This private page has been created for reviews, broadcasters, presenters, festival programmers, and other industry professionals.
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Stream Discovery
DOWNLOAD AUDIO & HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS
CONTACT
email: margitza14@gmail.com
phone: (313) 662.4178
website: www.rossmargitza.com
ABOUT DISCOVERY
At the heart of the album is the Ross Margitza Trio—Ross Margitza (piano), James Suter (bass), and Daniel Dufour (drums)—joined by the expressive textures of the Soha String Quartet and special guest, world-renown Joel Frahm on soprano saxophone. Together, these musicians create a sound world that blends lyrical melodies, rich harmonic colors, and dynamic improvisation, bridging the intimacy of chamber music with the spontaneity of jazz.
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Each composition tells its own story, from moments of joyful discovery and quiet reflection to tributes honoring family, friendship, and those whose influence continues to resonate. Throughout the album, the strings expand the emotional landscape while the trio provides a foundation of rhythmic interplay and improvisational freedom.
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Recorded at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music Recording Studio, Discovery represents years of artistic growth and collaboration. It is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and experience music as a journey—one that celebrates heritage, connection, and the enduring power of discovery.
Album Information:
All selections composed and arranged by Ross Margitza
Ross Margitza - pianist, producer
Joel Frahm - soprano saxophone
James Suter - bass
Daniel Dufour - drums
The Soha Quartet:
Mei Liu - violin
Chloe Yofan - violin
Thomas Gougeon - viola
Katsuaki Arakawa - cello
The Soha Quartet performs on Discovery, The Wanderer, A Heart Fulfilled, and Remembrance
Joel Frahm performs on Discovery
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James Suter and Daniel Dufour perform on all tracks except For Graham
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Recorded on June 23rd, 2026 at the Butler School of Music Recording Studios - The University of Texas at Austin
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Recording Engineer: Andrew Stoltz
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Mixed, edited, and mastered by Dave Darlington
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Album artwork by Pierce Horvath
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Ross Margitza is a Steinway & Sons Piano Artist and records exclusively on Steinway pianos
This project was recorded using a Steinway Model D piano
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This project is funded in part by the Pathways To Jazz grant, a donor advised fund of the Boulder Country Arts Alliance
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All compositions © 2026 Ross Margitza. Copyright registration has been filed with the U.S. Copyright Office. All rights reserved.
ABOUT ROSS MARGITZA
Dr. Ross Margitza is a distinguished pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. He resides in Austin, TX where he serves as a Lecturer in Jazz Studies/Jazz Piano at the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, he began his musical journey under the guidance of his father and grandfather, both professional pianists. He started playing piano at age six and trumpet at age ten. Inspired by Oscar Peterson's recording of “West Side Story,” Ross pursued a career in jazz.
An award-winning pianist, Dr. Margitza clinched first place in the 2024 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and second place in the 2009 Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He has performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Russell Malone, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Patti Austin, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Roy McCurdy, Antonio Hart, Lynn Roberts, and Christian McBride. His credits also include performances with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Internationally, Ross has performed in Japan, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Canada, as well as major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York. As an educator, his previous appointments include serving as the Director of Instrumental Music at both Flintridge Preparatory School near Los Angeles and also St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin. In 2023, he taught collegiately as the Jazz Piano Instructor at Huston-Tillotson University.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Dr. Ross Margitza is a Steinway and Sons Piano Artist.