New York, NY (Top40 Charts) 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 and The Angry Squire. 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 and his wife
Janet continue running Boptism Music, and Rich 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 for two years now his tuba.
Rich's most recent recording, entitled Rich Willey's Boptism Big Band — Down & Dirty, is also on Wise Cat Records.
Rich Willey's not-so-secret Conspiracy is to get back to the original essence of jazz. Jazz began as dance music, fun and enjoyable to listen to and accessible to pretty much everybody. Rich thinks there are plenty of people who will embrace the infectious rhythms, the strong melodies, the consonant harmonies and the light-heartedness of his Boptism Funk Band. It's such a diabolical Conspiracy that there are also many levels of musical satisfaction in this music: for the dancer, for the die-hard jazz listener, and even for those who think they don't like jazz!
TRACKS AND TIMES:
1. Mister Magoo 4:32
2. Goofin' Off 7:19
3. Clip Clop Mogul 7:17
4. Blessed Are The Hip 7:05
5. Adrenaline Rush 5:30
6.
Brother Kenya's Paradigm 5:31
7. Secret Things 7:32
8. Conspiracy 4:25
9. Nude Eel 8:12
10. Eenie Meanie Beanie Weeny 6:38
11. Blues For
Bobby 5:11
All tunes written by Rich Willey
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTS:
Bobby Floyd, Hammond B3 Organ & Piano
Byron "Wookie" Landham, Drums
Dave Stryker, Guitar
Wally Minko, Fender Rhodes and Synthesizer
Rich Willey, Bass Trumpet & Trumpet
Mike Boone, 5-String Electric Bass
Dan Fornero, Trumpet & Flugelhorn
John Swana, Valve Trombone & EVI
Tom Evans, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Baritone Sax
David Mann, Tenor Sax &
Soprano Sax
