International trumpeter and Yamaha Performing Artist, Rex Richardson, has given instrumental jazz, blues and classical fans two reasons to celebrate this week; the release of two new albums. The big band, BUGLES OVER ZAGREB (Rex Richardson Productions) and the progressive Jazz BLUE SHIFT (Summit Records) with saxophone great, Steve Wilson.
BUGLES OVER ZAGREB is available now on RexRichardson.net and CD Baby and will soon be available on Amazon and iTunes.
BLUE SHIFT is available on Amazon and
SummitRecords.com.
Richardson will appear on “Virginia This
Morning” October 21st and celebrate with a dual album release event at The
Broadberry in Richmond October 22nd.
Both instrumental albums highlight Richardson’s
personal style, which combines a singular virtuosity with an endlessly
inventive approach to improvisation. These releases solidify his status as a
world-class trumpet player. Embodying both jazz cool and masterful range, he is
an accessible artist and educator who will foster the genre for many years to
come.
BUGLES OVER ZAGREB is inspired by a spectrum of
musical characteristics from across the globe and recorded live at Croatian
Radiotelevision studio Bajsić, the album is composed and conducted by
Grammy-nominated Doug Richards; one of the most innovative composers of
symphonic jazz today. The first half of the album presents the
“INTERCONTINENTAL CONCERTO FOR TRUMPET AND JAZZ ORCHESTRA” and the second half
is entitled “DUKAL BUGLES,” written as a tribute to Duke Ellington's best-known
trumpet stars, consists of five sections (tracks) unfolding into one continuous
movement. The result is an epic, globe trekking treasure highlighting two
American jazz masters at work.
BLUE SHIFT is what happens when two world-class
jazz musicians, Rex Richardson (trumpet) and Steve Wilson (saxophone), put
together a modern jazz quintet with broad influences – ranging from the
post-bop shades of Woody Shaw to the country-western inflections of Bill
Frisell. BLUE SHIFT’s compositions epitomize the eclecticism of modern jazz, a
contemporary shift where bebop and jazz-rock meet. Included in the lineup are
Trey Pollard (guitar), Randall Pharr (bass) and Brian Jones (drums).
The International Trumpet Guild says, “Rex
Richardson is among the very best trumpet soloists in the world today!” Style
Weekly called him, “One of the world’s most engaging and astonishingly
versatile trumpeters.” Richardson has performed in critically acclaimed
ensembles and orchestras on five continents and shared the stage with countless
legendary artists. He has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University since 2002
and served as artist-in-residence or visiting professor at colleges from New
York to London. He was awarded the 2011 Theresa Pollack Prize for Excellence in
the Arts and named the 2008 Brass Herald Personality of the Year. Yamaha has
endorsed him since 1995.
