Testimonials
“I am very happy and honored to be a witness to a great trumpet player.”
“I was truly elated when I heard your latest recording.”
“A trumpet player with a big fat sound, great chops, and most importantly, lots of soul.”
From the very first time Richard Boulger heard the sound of a trumpet played by his father, Richard, Sr., in the basement of his family's North Adams, Massachusetts home, he knew that the trumpet was for him. It was his father who taught him the most important thing about playing the trumpet was to feel something while you play or, said another way, play from the soul.
Having spent his lifetime studying the art forms of playing the trumpet, music composition, and improvisation, for Richard Boulger, music has come down to one word: HEART.
A former long-time, private student of trumpet legends Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd, Boulger spent years developing his craft with the hopes of creating music that will touch the listener, invoke feelings and emotions, and even inspire.
He has recorded with such diverse Grammy award-winning and world class artists as The Allman Brothers Band, Randy Brecker, "Joe," Little Louie Vega, Alex Foster, Victor Jones, Jeremih and many more. With his three highly-acclaimed, self-produced recording projects,"The Calling", "Blues Twilight" and "Lookin Up", his fourth project is now in the works.
After many years of studying and teaching, Boulger is now creating a body of work that will help, and also challenge, other trumpeters and musicians with a new play-along series that includes "Long-Tone Meditations." The play-along series is based upon and inspired by Boulger's extensive studies with and ideas shared from the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, Jackie Mclean, Ludmila Uhlehla, Richie Beirach, Ben Shwendener, Charlie Banacos, Jon Faddis, and many others. The goal of the new series is to encourage players to simplify what are often perceived as complex and difficult musical challenges, as well as help to build stronger technique and facility on one's instrument and to help players be able to perform with greater confidence and in so doing, be able to relax and say something through their horn.
An active studio trumpet session recording artist, producer, educator and performing artist, Richard Boulger is also the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization, the Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies, Inc.