Rich Willey

Rich Willey plays trumpet, bass trumpet, valve trombone, tuba and Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI).

Rich continues to teach privately and composes and arranges music for various-sized jazz ensembles.

A U.S Army bandsman, he studied at the U.S. Navy School of Music and then attended North Texas State University where he studied jazz improvisation with Rich Matteson, Jack Petersen and Dan Haerle.

Rich spent his formative years as a jazz player in Philadelphia and NYC clubs and later participated in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop studying with Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam.

At the Manhattan School of Music Rich studied arranging with Mike Abene, trumpet with Byron Stripling, improvisation with Garry Dial and film scoring with Ed Green, graduating with a masters in jazz performance/trumpet.

Rich has toured with Maynard Ferguson and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and has played numerous times for the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

Through the years Rich has played with and/or for: Lionel Hampton, Hank Mobley, Don Patterson, Buddy Morrow, Bob Haggart, Dick Hyman, Claudio Roditi, Chris Potter, Conrad Herwig, John Swana, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Drew Jr., Brad Mehldau, Mel Tormé, Bobby Sanabria, Skitch Henderson, Tommy Flanagan, and many others.

A perpetual student, Rich studied trumpet and bass trumpet with the legendary Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt in Philadelphia from 1978–1986, and is currently a student of Chris Gekker, professor of trumpet at University of Maryland.

Rich owns and operates Boptism Music, a publishing company begun in 2001 offering over 30 of his music and method books, and performs regularly in the Southeast.

In 2019 Rich recorded and released two CDs on the Wise Cat record label: Rich Willey’s Boptism Big Band — Down & Dirty, and Rich Willey’s Boptism Funk Band — Conspiracy.

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“Rich Willey is an inspiration. His lines bubble . . . his sound is smooth to the touch. Rich had me popping my fingers and begging for more!” — BYRON STRIPLING, recording and performing artist, former lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra

“Rich Willey’s trumpet playing and his use of bass trumpet is especially refreshing. A no-nonsense player.” — MICHAEL ABENE, jazz pianist, arranger, composer, faculty member at Manhattan School of Music, NYC

“Rich’s arrangements are thoughtful and swinging. His bass trumpet sound and style really knocks me out.” — TED ROSENTHAL, jazz pianist, clinician, faculty member at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music

“Rich is not only a prodigious trumpet talent but also a remarkable composer and arranger.” — RICK SIMERLY, Conn/Selmer artist, Jamey Aebersold clinician

“I'll take a couple moments to talk about Rich Willey. For those of you who were, like me, asking yourself if this guy can actually play, let me assure you - HE PLAYS! Rich was a soloist several times during the concert and came out with well-thought ideas and an individual style that shows he is his own player. His sound was free, and seemed to have no problem getting the trumpet to convey the ideas he had. The guy is the real deal - so you young players (and comeback players) take note when he posts to TPIN (Trumpet Players International Network)! He is out there doing it! The hall was dead, so I had trouble hearing the individual members of the band well during soli sections, but Rich seemed to be holding his own with some challenging stuff!” — TIM PHILLIPS, lead trumpeter, performing artist

“I absolutely will endorse Rich and recommend him highly. He's a consummate gentleman, a great player, an excellent instructor and has a wonderful sense of humor. I feel quite privileged to be able to know him and call him a friend.” — BILL MIRRIELEES, Asbury Brass Ensemble, Wild Bunch Dixieland Jazz Band, Ovation Arts Orchestra

“Rich Willey has assembled a terrific group of musicians to perform a well chosen as well as brilliantly performed repertoire of standards and original music. Rich displays originality, humor and a broad expanse of emotional depth in his writing and playing. Rich Willey is a young and inspired trumpeter/composer who is headed for high recognition in a world that is hungry for such ambition.” — AL TRAINER, CAP records

“Rich Willey studied Jazz Composition with me and I feel I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. I really enjoyed the charts he did for this CD, his original Eyes All For You, based on the changes to Body and Soul and done as a waltz, Gone With the Wind and even Melancholy Baby! I think you will enjoy this CD.” — MICHAEL ABENE, arranger, composer, faculty member at Manhattan School of Music

“Rich Willey is a wonderful instrumentalist and jazz composer.” — CLAUDIO RODITI, world-renowned trumpeter, composer, recording artist

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