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Rex Richardson

Hailed in classical circles as “among the very best trumpet soloists in the world today,” (Journal of the ITG, 2011) and “One of the finest virtuosos of our time” (Brass Herald, 2018) and in jazz as “a standout soloist with the power, range and flexibility to rival Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw,” (DownBeat Magazine, 2014) Yamaha Performing Artist Rex Richardson was named the 2008 Brass Herald International Personality of the Year.

A veteran of the acclaimed chamber ensemble Rhythm & Brass, jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet and Sextet, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek, known as the world’s “Rolls Royce of Brass Bands” (Brass Band World), he stays busy as a headline artist at international brass and jazz festivals and as a soloist with orchestras, concert bands, brass bands and jazz ensembles on six continents. These include Phoenix Symphony and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestras, the U.S. Army Field Band and Tokyo Symphonic Winds, England's Fodens Brass Band, and the U.S. Air Force's Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble.

He has collaborated with countless legendary artists and ensembles, including Eric Aubier, Brian Blade, Benny Carter, Boston Brass, Ray Charles, Mike Clarke, Dave Douglas, Kurt Elling, Carl Fontana, Pacho Flores, Aretha Franklin, Wycliffe Gordon, Stefon Harris, Conrad Herwig, Dave Holland, Dave Liebman, Keith Lockhart, James Morrison, Jimmy Owens, Jim Pugh, Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Shew, Ruben Simeo, Spanish Brass, Allen Vizzutti, Bill Watrous, and Steve Wilson. Jazz trumpet star Dave Douglas has called him “A national treasure.” (Style Weekly magazine)

Having developed a reputation unique in the trumpet world for his combination of singular virtuosity, deep lyricism, and an emphasis on improvisation in classical as well as jazz idioms, Richardson is renowned as a tireless champion of new music. He has presented the premiere performances of genre- busting concertos written for him by Peter Meechan, Anthony Plog, Doug Richards, David Sampson, Andy Scott, James Stephenson, Allen Vizzutti, and Dana Wilson in thirty-eight countries.

Richardson’s nine recordings as a soloist or bandleader are all released on Summit Records. His most recent, Freedom of Movement: 21st Century Trumpet Concertos, featuring the new works by Plog, Scott, Stephenson and Vizzutti, was released in May of 2018 to rave reviews. It was named a top-ten finalist for 4barsrest.com’s 2018 Solo CD of the Year, and The Journal of the International Trumpet Guild called it “A triumph of virtuosity and musicianship” (March 2019).

Richardson has degrees in anthropology and music from Northwestern and Louisiana State and has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University since 2002. He served as International Tutor in Trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, U.K. from 2012-2015. In 2018 he was appointed International Tutor in Trumpet at JAM Music Lab University in Vienna, Austria. He has served as an adjudicator/guest soloist at international brass and jazz competitions in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

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Multiple Reviews

Rex Richardson: Bugles Over Zagreb: The Music of Doug Richards and Blue Shift

Read "Rex Richardson: Bugles Over Zagreb: The Music of Doug Richards and Blue Shift" reviewed by Ken Hohman


Rex Richardson Bugles Over Zagreb: The Music of Doug Richards Self Produced 2014 Master class trumpeter virtuoso Rex Richardson is one of a rare breed of jazz musicians who can successfully straddle the worlds of classical and jazz without sounding like he's a mere overnight guest when performing in either genre. His focused, fiery delivery and high wire act of technical prowess is uncompromised whether soloing for orchestras in Slovenia and Manchester or ...

264
Album Review

Rex Richardson: Jazz Upstairs: Live at the Bar-Guru-Bar

Read "Jazz Upstairs: Live at the Bar-Guru-Bar" reviewed by Larry Taylor


In ancient Athens, American trumpet virtuoso Rex Richardson has put together a group of excellent young Greek jazz musicians and shows them off on Jazz Upstairs: Live at the Bar-Guru-Bar. A collection of standards and originals with swinging, easy-listening arrangements, some tracks possess a modern, cutting-edge bent.

Richardson, at home in both jazz and classical contexts, is a globetrotter, plying his talent in the world's concert halls and clubs when not teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Here, ...

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116

Radio

Rappin' with Rex Richardson on Freedom Jazz Dance

Rappin' with Rex Richardson on Freedom Jazz Dance

Source: All About Jazz

Tune in to Freedom Jazz Dance--modern jazz from bebop to freebop and beyond--this Sunday on 90.1 FM WDCE from 5-7 PM, live from the beautiful campus of the University of Richmond.

This week I'm delighted to have world class trumpeter Rex Richardson as my guest in the studio as he provides insights into his musical muse, his recent performances in Greece, his work with the Virginia Commonwealth University jazz program and his latest release Live at the Bar Guru. Learn ...

“One of the world’s most engaging and astonishingly versatile trumpeters.” - Style Weekly

“Rex Richardson is among the very best trumpet soloists in the world today!” - International Trumpet Guild

Woody Shaw
trumpet
Seamus Blake
saxophone
Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor
John Coltrane
saxophone
Tim Hagans
trumpet
Chris Potter
saxophone
Till Bronner
trumpet
Beck
guitar

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Freedom of Movement:...

Summit Records
2018

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Foundation: The...

Summit Records
2017

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Blue Shift

Summit Records
2014

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Bugles Over Zagreb |...

Summit Records
2014

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Magnum Opus: 21st...

Summit Records
2010

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Jazz Upstairs: Live...

Summit Records
2007

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The Tao Of Heavy D

From: Jazz Upstairs: Live at the...
By Rex Richardson

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