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Wayne Ricci

Ever since Wayne Ricci won the John Philip Sousa Band Award as a youth, he charted his musical course as a first-rate trumpeter, performing in concert bands, classical brass ensembles, and marching bands.

The trumpeter has contributed to Kathy Sanborn's eight albums, including the August 4, 2017 release, Recollecting You.

Writer and critic Mark S. Tucker says: "Wayne Ricci is a reborn Chet Baker on trumpet."

Jazz critic Susan Frances (JazzTimes) notes that Ricci performs with a “sable-like plushness.” His smooth, soulful tone is both refreshingly pure and emotionally deep, a style that is uniquely his own.

Awards

John Philip Sousa Band Award

Kathy Sanborn: Romance Language

Read "Romance Language" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
July 11, 2025

Over 60 years ago, the original television series, The Twilight Zone (Rod Serling, CBS, 1959-64), had an unusually memorable episode. Called “Passage for a Trumpet," it featured Jack Klugman, alcoholic, down on his luck and suicidal. A trumpet player named Joey Crown uttered the memorable line, “This horn is half my language." OK. No spoiler. It is a spectacular performance, and now Kathy Sanborn has, in a way, produced an album based on it. The player for the episode was ...

"Wayne Ricci is a reborn Chet Baker on trumpet." —Mark S. Tucker

"Ricci performs with a sable-like plushness." —Susan Frances, JazzTimes