Bugles Over Zagreb: Music of Doug Richards

BUGLES OVER ZAGREB, the sixth album from international jazz trumpeter and Yamaha Performing Artist, Rex Richardson, will be released on October 14, 2014 and will be available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and http://rexrichardson.net. Highlighting his personal style, which combines a singular virtuosity with an endlessly inventive approach to improvisation, BUGLES OVER ZAGREB solidifies Richardson’s 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. 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. BUGLES OVER ZAGREB begins with the “INTERCONTINENTAL CONCERTO FOR TRUMPET AND JAZZ ORCHESTRA.” The musical journey takes the listener from Africa to Asia where we hear a blend of Richardson’s solos on trombone and piccolo trumpet. Then straight through to Europe and Australia where Richardson plays a quadruple-time improvisation on flugelhorn to a melody inspired by Bach and the shepherds-crook cornet during a convergence of musical cultures using the iconic “Waltzing Matilda.” The adventure continues to North America where Richardson’s trumpet turns home, celebrating the musical majesty of the U.S. on W.C. Handy’s “Aunt Hagar’s Blues.” Ernesto Nazareth’s “Oden” creates the basis for an unexpected direction to South America where Richardson performs on all five of the instruments associated with each prior track. During his cadenza, he traces the six continents in reverse order. Keep your passport handy! The journey isn’t over yet. The second half of the album is entitled “DUKAL BUGLES” by Doug Richards. The work, written as a tribute to Duke Ellington's best-known trumpet stars, consists of five sections (tracks) unfolding into one continuous movement. BUGLES OVER ZAGREB is an epic, globe trekking treasure highlighting two American jazz masters at work.