Hello fellow trumpet players,
here's a little bit about myself:
I've lived in NYC all of my life (46 years). I was introduced to the trumpet by Richard Brezowski. He was the wonderful band director at Clark Junior High School in the South Bronx. I'm a huge supporter of public education and of music and the arts in all of our schools. It does make a huge difference.
Most folks associate my playing only with Latin music. I have spent the last 25 years involved in the New York Salsa and Latin Jazz scene. A lot of folks are not aware that I'm equally involved in Jazz, R and B and classical music. Living in New York is wonderful because you can actually survive doing a number of very different things.
The next couple of months will have me doing every thing from Jazz with Jeanie Bryson (Dizzy's daughter) to contemporary classical at the Mostly Mozart Festival playing the music of Ozvaldo Golijov to playing with my Latin Jazz quintet and my funk group to playing lead with a number of great Salsa bands. Diversity is the key for me. There's no other way for me to survive in the current economic climate. For me, the hardest part is being able to switch gears from one genre to the next. Players like Tony Kadleck, Jason Carder and Brad Goode all serve as great examples to me of players that do it all......I'll throw Bobby Shew and Gizzy in there as well...Their ability to go from sizzling lead to burning jazz is simply awe inspiring. Did I mention Vizzutti....Yes, I'm a major fan.
I'm currently a lecturer at The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College (SUNY). My workload there includes directing The Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra, coaching a small jazz combo, teaching trumpet and teaching Jazz History. I also conduct clinics in the US and Europe. I love teaching as much as I love playing the trumpet.
I look forward to having some wonderful dialog with all of you!
Peace-RV
RAY VEGA - rayvegamusic.com