The Dynamic Trumpeter: Rick Braun Smooth Jazz Composer and Producer

Rick Braun: The Dynamic Trumpeter

The dynamic trumpeter Rick Braun – born on July 6, 1955, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and doing his thing at Dieruff High School. His mom, a self-taught piano and banjo maestro, set the stage, and Rick kicked off his musical journey drumming up a storm at school. But guess what? He switched gears, picked up the trumpet, and followed in his brother’s footsteps. Fast forward to the ’70s, and he’s jamming with a jazz-fusion squad called Auracle at the Eastman School of Music.

Early Musical Ventures and Auracle Adventures

Rolling into the ’80s, the dynamic trumpeter Rick dove into the pop scene, dropping albums in Japan and even threw in some songwriting for Lorimar (Warner Chappell). His track “Here with Me” with REO Speedwagon climbed the charts. After a stint playing with big names like Crowded House and Tom Petty, he’s back on the trumpet scene.

Going Solo and Grooving with the Greats

In ’92, the dynamic trumpeter Rick kicked off his solo gig with “Intimate Secrets” (Mesa), and two more solo albums hit the scene in ’94 – “Night Walk” and “Christmas Present.” ’95 brings “Beat Street,” and boom, Rick’s solo career takes off. He’s got a playlist of influences like Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Herb Alpert – the man behind the Tijuana Brass vibe that inspired Rick’s “Tijuana Dance.”

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Rocking the Charts and Getting Props

Check this out – “Kisses in the Rain,” “R n R,” “All It Takes,” and “Can You Feel It” hit the top spots on the charts. Rick even lands a sweet spot on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart in 2011 with “Sings with Strings.” Oh, and he’s part of the cool BWB crew with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown.

Youtube video by Rick’s Cafe Live 

Jamming and Making Moves

Beyond the stage, Rick’s a co-founder of ARTizen Music Group (now Artistry Music) and has some history with Rykodisc. He’s bagged the Artist of the Year award twice from the Gavin Report.

Rick’s Playlist Highlights

• “Body and Soul” (1996)
• “Shake It Up” (2000)
• “Kisses in the Rain” (2001)
• “RnR” (2007)
• “Swingin’ in the Snow” (2012)

That’s the dynamic trumpeter Rick Braun – making jazz cool, one trumpet note at a time.

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