Richie Vitale

Richie Vitale (born September 23, 1954; Rochester, New York) is an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer.

Performances

Vitale played trumpet in the 2010 Broadway show Come Fly Away with a 19-piece big band playing the music of Frank Sinatra and dancing of the Twyla Tharp Dance Troup. Vitale recorded his first album "Vitalogy" and two following CDs "Full Circle" and "Slow Groove" for Gut String Records. He has led his quartet/quintet on tours of Europe, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Teaching

Vitale has taught Clinics and Master Classes at the Eastman School of Music, instructed the Jazz Ensemble at Long Island University and was Brass Instructor at Manhattan School of Music and Long Island University and is recently retired as jazz professor teaching trumpet and ensemble at New Jersey City University.

Big Band experience

Vitale was a trumpet soloist with Frank Sinatra for five years and has also performed with Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, James Taylor and Sting. He was featured soloist with the Vanguard Orchestra, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, the Basie Band, and the Ellington Band.

Small group experience

Worked with Frank Wess, Jack Bruce and the Chris Byars Octet. Currently, working in the NYC metropolitan area and traveling as an artist.

Discography

As leader

• 1988 Dreamsville
• 1996 Live at Smalls
• 2000 Shake It!
• 2005 New York Salsa
• 2011 Vitalogy
• 2020 Full Circle
• 2021 Slow Groove

As sideman

• 1984 Vertical Currency
• 1992 Duets 2, Frank Sinatra
• 2006 The Evening Sound, Neil Minor Sextet
• 2006 Night Owls, Chris Byars Octet