Saturday, December 9, 2023

Vibrant modern jazz performed by an exceptional quintet.

Hailed in jazz circles as “a standout soloist with the power, range and flexibility to rival Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw,” (DownBeat Magazine, 2014) and in classical as “among the very best trumpet soloists in the world today,” (Journal of the International Trumpet Guild, 2011) and “One of the finest virtuosos of our time” (Brass Herald, 2018) and in Yamaha Performing Artist Rex Richardson was named the 2008 Brass Herald International Personality of the Year.

A veteran of jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet and Sextet, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the acclaimed chamber ensemble Rhythm & Brass, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek, known as the world’s “Rolls Royce of Brass Bands” (Brass Band World), he stays busy as a headline artist at international jazz and brass festivals. His hundreds of solo engagements in 46 countries include appearances with the U.S. Air Force's Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble, Tokyo's Z Express Big Band, the Croatian Radio-Television Jazz Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestras, the U.S. Army Field Band and Tokyo Symphonic Winds, England's Fodens Brass Band, Spanish Brass, and Boston Brass.

Richardson has collaborated with countless legendary artists and ensembles, including, Wayne Bergeron, Brian Blade, Benny Carter, Boston Brass, Ray Charles, Mike Clarke, Dave Douglas, Kurt Elling, Carl Fontana, Aretha Franklin, Thomas Gansch, Wycliffe Gordon, Stefon Harris, Conrad Herwig, Dave Holland, Sean Jones, Dave Liebman, Eric Miyashiro. James Morrison, Jim Pugh, Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Shew, Allen Vizzutti, Bill Watrous, and Steve Wilson. Jazz trumpet star Dave Douglas has called him “A national treasure.” (Style Weekly magazine)

In 2009 he was presented with the VCU School of the Arts highest honor, the Award of Excellence, and was awarded the 2011 Theresa Pollack Prize for Excellence in the Arts. The Pollack Prize selectors wrote: “Richardson stands at the vanguard of jazz, classical and contemporary American music. As his star has risen internationally, he’s maintained a clear commitment to education. He is an extraordinary musician.”

The quintet includes: Charles Owens, tenor; Dimitrije Vasiljevic, piano; Randall Pharr, bass; Kofi Shepsu, drums

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