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Rich Willey
A Florida native who landed in North Carolina in 2002, Rich Willey (rhymes with “Billy”) has been around the block, including playing in the 24th Infantry Division Band in the U.S. Army, attending North Texas State University from 1978–1981, then three years cutting his teeth in the jazz clubs in Philadelphia prior to three years in Atlantic City and then seven years in northern New Jersey across the river from New York City. Rich started calling his bands Boptism in 1986 in New Jersey and in New York, playing in such venues as Birdland, The West End Gate, The Angry Squire and The New York Brass Conference. After going back to school from 1995 through 2001, getting a bachelors from the University of South Florida in Tampa and then a masters at the Manhattan School of Music, Rich worked again in New York City until going on the road for a tour with Maynard Ferguson right after 9/11/2001.
Since establishing residency in North Carolina, between tours with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow, Rich taught at the college level for years at such schools as UNC-Asheville, Clemson University, Limestone College and Gardner-Webb University. In 2001 Rich founded Boptism Music, a publishing company that distributes materials he wrote while teaching as well as his arrangements and original compositions. He continues running Boptism Music and freelances on trumpet and bass trumpet throughout the Western Carolina region. Between recording sessions, Rich continues to compose music, write books, practice his trumpet, his bass trumpet, and (since 2017) his tuba.
Rich has performed with many great musicians, including Maynard Ferguson, 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, Harry Allen, Bill Mobley, Dave Stahl, Jack Jones, Shirley Jones, The Inkspots, Skitch Henderson, Tommy Flanagan, Tony Randall, Andrea McCardle, Debby Boone, and many others.
Awards
John Phillip Sousa Award, 1973
Gear
Olds Trumpet with Greg Black mouthpiece
Mt. Vernon Bach Bass Trumpet with Bach mouthpiece
Conn Valve Trombone with Bach mouthpiece
Miraphone Tuba with Helleberg mouthpiece
Johan Berglund EVI with Darren Barrett mouthpiece
Tags
Radio & Podcasts
Music from Rich Willey, Paul Hecht, La Boeuf Brothers And More
by Bob Osborne
The conventional meets the experimental with a mix of new releases including three new ones from Ivo Perelman and some archive UK jazz from a band that never got around to releasing an album in its lifetime. A spicy mix of straight ahead jazz together with the best in current improvisation. Playlist Rich Willey “Hip, Slick & Cool" from Laid Back Volume One (Boptism) 00:00 Paul Hecht “My Chromatic Romance" from Pyrography II (ears&eyes) 09:15 Le Boeuf Brothers ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey: Laid Back Vol. 1, featuring John Swana
by Jack Bowers
Chicago-based trumpeter and composer Rich Willey oversees an impressive 11-piece ensemble on Laid Back, Vol. 1, which embodies seven of his melodically enticing and rhythmically strong compositions, all neatly arranged by Wally Minko. The one drawback in this otherwise pleasing session is a disconcerting funk/Latin beat, which lends an aura of sameness to every number that serves to weaken its purpose and impede efforts to separate it from the herd. That is countered to some extent by the ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey: Laid Back Vol. 1, featuring John Swana
by Jack Bowers
Chicago-based trumpeter and composer Rich Willey oversees an impressive eleven-piece ensemble on Best Laid Plans, which embodies seven of his melodically enticing and rhythmically strong compositions, all neatly arranged by Wally Minko. The one clear drawback in this otherwise pleasing session, however, is an incessant rock beat, which lends an aura of sameness to every number that serves to weaken its purpose and impede even the most valiant efforts to separate it from the herd. That is countered ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey: Boptism Christmas
by Jack Bowers
With seasonal jazz albums in rather short supply this year, it is a pleasure to welcome Boptism Christmas, a series of mostly well- known holiday tunes ably performed by multi-instrumentalist Rich Willey and his impressive North Carolina-based octet-plus-one. The “plus one" applies to Tracks 5 and 6, on which Russ Wilson joins the ensemble to sing ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer") or play drums ("Little Drummer Boyz"). Wilson sings respectably on a jazzed-up version of “Rudolph," a mega-hit ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey: Puttin' On the Ritz
by Nicholas F. Mondello
When Irving Berlin wrote “Puttin' On the Ritz" in 1927 on a unique “transposing piano" tuned to his preferred key of F#, little could he ever know that one day, among the myriad numbers of covers of the tune, that it would title an album that features, among other attractions, Electronic Voice Instrument “wah-wah" solos. Putting that on hold, Rich Willey's effort apes the concept of that tune as an elegant effort. “Puttin' On the Ritz" offers ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Both before and after his first terrific recording as leader--Gone with the Piggies (Consolidated Artists Productions, 1988)--Asheville, North Carolina-based Rich Willey has been a very busy jazzman. During that period, Willey spent dues-playing time with Philly Phenoms, New York Bopsters, did a stint with the great Maynard Ferguson, authored dozens of well-acclaimed trumpet and jazz improv books, wrote scores of original tunes, taught and, in his spare time, performed locally. However, within the last year he has released two outstanding ...
Continue ReadingRich Willey: Down & Dirty
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Back in 2001, trumpeter/composer/educator Rich Willey released a critically acclaimed album titled Gone with the Piggies (CAP Records). As a result, a savvy audience has followed him cult-like ever since. With Down and Dirty, the former Maynard Ferguson standout delivers a bacchanalia presentation both as player and composer, surrounded by a unit of Los Angeles' finest players and world- class arrangers. There are marvelously diverse big band grooves here that Willey and his jazz merchants are selling. ...
Continue Reading“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
Primary Instrument
Cornet
Location
Asheville
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
Education:
1999–2001: Manhattan School of Music, Masters degree in Jazz Performance/Trumpet, May 2001, 3.84 GPA
1996–99: University of South Florida; graduated cum distinction from College of Fine Arts, May ‘99, 3.74 GPA, B.A. in Music Ed
1995–96: St. Petersburg Junior College, Associate of Arts Degree
1989–90: BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, studied with Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam
Clifford Brown
trumpet
Paul Desmond
saxophone, alto
Tom Harrell
trumpet
Hank Mobley
saxophone, tenor
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto
