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Rich Wetzel

Rich is rapidly becoming a star in the jazz world with his exciting trumpet playing and big band.

About Me

Rich is well known as a very powerful, very exciting, and high energy lead trumpet player, featured soloist, who is equally adept at gorgeous, soft, beautiful trumpet or flugelhorn lyrical concert settings, or soaring over the top of the band or orchestra on a power ballad in the Maynard Ferguson style. He is often a featured soloist for many top local and regional bands as well. Rich is also a top call contractor for both national and international acts for string and horn sections for some of the biggest names in the business at major venues.

Wetzel grew up in Garden Grove, CA, near Anaheim and Los Angeles, where on more occasions than you could count, you could go see the great jazz orchestras of people like Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Stan Kenton, and more.

He has played trumpet for and personally put together horn sections for groups such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Spinners, The Platters, The Ojays, Al Martino, Wayne Newton, and many more. Wetzel has that Ferguson stratospheric sound, and leads his amazing group on a stellar rendition of all these styles.

He is an amazing trumpet player who is rapidly becoming a star in the jazz world, along with one of the most exciting bands anywhere, Rich Wetzel and his Groovin Higher Jazz Orchestra.



Professional Credits

Wayne Newton The Ojays The Four Tops The Temptations The Spinners The Coasters The Platters Smokey Robinson Al Martino Charo Legends In Concert Bobby Arvon Domenik Allen Stonebridge Richard Streets' Temptations Tribute Rick Michels Rat Pack Tribute El Chicano Lee Oskar Si Zentner Big Band Ian Finkel and Elliott Finkel Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Holland America Cruise Line Celebrity Cruise Line The US Army Band