Rich is a bandleader and a freelance musician. Below are just a few of the hundreds of groups he’s played with and some of the bands he’s led; he’ll assemble any kind of band that seems right at the moment. Above we see Rich rehearsing with Terry Vosbein's Progressive Jazz Orchestra (left), with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra backing up Clay Aiken (center), and as a guest artist with the Clemson University Jazz Band (right).
Joe Mambo, Afro-Cuban Jazz Band
Left to right:
Ozzie Orengo — congas
Grant Cuthbertson — bass
Pito Orengo — timbales
Jeff Knorr — piano
Rich Willey — trumpet
Juan Luis Merced — bongos
Stuart Reinhardt — tenor saxophone
Maya — German Shepherd
Photo by Janet Willey
June 17, 2009, Asheville, NC
Brass Knuckles, two-bass trumpet jazz quintet
Left to right:
Richard Shulman — piano
Rich Willey — bass trumpet
Russ Wilson — drums
Don Hough — bass trumpet
Zack Page — bass
Photo by Janet Willey
April 24, 2011, Asheville NC
Rich Willey’s Jazz Brethren
Left to right:
Charles Holland — bass
Rich Willey — trumpet
Paul Babelay — drums
Richard Shulman — piano
Photo by Janet Willey
July 10, 2007, Lake Lure, NC
The Swingtones
Left to right:
Bruce Lang — bass and vocals
Russ Wilson — drums and vocals
Rich Willey — trumpet and vocals
Hank Bones — guitar and vocals
Photo by Janet Willey
May 29, 2011, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
The Rich Willey Jazz Quartet
Left to right:
Richard Shulman — piano
Rich Willey — trumpet and vocals
Shannon Hoover — bass
Jeff Hook — drums
Photo by Janet Willey
September 3, 2006, Clemson, SC
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Trombones left to right:
Travis Cottle
Mike Boscarino
Lee Watts
Trumpets left to right:
Ed Gaston
Hardin Butcher
Mike Wyatt (Rich’s hero)
Rich Willey
Photo by Janet Willey
January 22, 2011
Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
The Swingtones Big Creek Recording Studio Photo Session
Rich Willey, trumpet
Hank Bones, guitar
Bruce Lang, bass
Russ Wilson, drums
Photo by Colleen Lang
September 2009
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Rich Willey, trumpet
Hank Bones, guitar
Bruce Lang, bass
Russ Wilson, drums
Photo by Colleen Lang
September 2009
Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau
Left photo L to R:
Maynard Ferguson
Patrick Hession
Rich Willey
Stephan Kammmerer
Reggie Watkins
Pix by Linda Maertz at Blues Alley, Washington, DC, 10/2001
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Left photo L to R:
Maynard Ferguson
Patrick Hession
Rich Willey
Stephan Kammmerer
Reggie Watkins
Pix by Linda Maertz at
Gig for a former President of the United States
Left to Right:
Ryan Mullins, drums
Matt Kendrick, bass
Joey Trivette, piano
George W. Bush, guest of honor
Rich Willey, trumpet
Andrew Necessary, trombone
Shawn Davis, guitar
September 24, 2010, The Olde Farm, Bristol, VA
Just before the photo was taken, Rich asked the President if he’d like to hold his trumpet for the picture. The President said, “No, thanks. With my luck, they’d get hold of the picture and write about what a bad trumpet player I was, too.”
Ryan Mullins, drums
Matt Kendrick, bass
Joey Trivette, piano
George W. Bush, guest of honor
Rich Willey, trumpet
Andrew Necessary, trombone
Shawn Davis, guitar
September 24, 2010, The Olde Farm, Bristol, VA
Just before the photo was taken, Rich asked the President if he’d like to hold his trumpet for the picture. The President said, “No, thanks. With my luck, they’d get hold of the picture and write about what a bad trumpet player I was, too.”
