Rick Kiefer (born 1939) is an American trumpet player who has spent most of his career as a professional musician in Germany. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he first attracted notice in the early 1960s as a member of the Maynard Ferguson big band. In the mid-60s, he moved to Germany and became a member of the

Max Greger Max Greger (April 2, 1926, Munich – August 15, 2015, Munich) was a German jazz musician, saxophonist, big band bandleader and conductor. He recorded over 150 records in jazz and pop music. In 1948 he founded his first sextet with acclaimed m ...

band, and by the end of the decade, he had joined the

Kurt Edelhagen Kurt Edelhagen (born 5 June 1920 – 8 February 1982) was a German big band leader. He was born in Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Edelhagen studied conducting and piano in Essen. In 1945, he started a trio, then a big band a year later. ...

orchestra in Cologne. He spent the first half of the 1970s as a member of the James Last Orchestra, as well as with the

Peter Herbolzheimer Peter Alexandru Herbolzheimer (31 December 1935 – 27 March 2010) was a Romanian-German jazz trombonist and bandleader. Biography Herbolzheimer was born to a Romanian mother and a German father in Bucharest, Romania. His family emigrated in 1 ...

band, and from the late 70s onwards became a permanent member of the WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk, or West German Radio) big band. Kiefer is notable for being part of a group of Cleveland natives who played trumpet for

James Last James Last (, ; born Hans Last; 17 April 1929 – 9 June 2015), also known as Hansi, was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist (Last won the award for "best bassist" in Germany in each of ...

, the others being Bob Lanese, Chuck Findley and Bob Findley.Bob Willox, "James Last", 1975

Discography

With Maynard Ferguson *'' Newport Suite'' (Roulette, 1960) *''

Let's Face the Music and Dance "Let's Face the Music and Dance" is a song written in 1936 by Irving Berlin for the film ''Follow the Fleet'', where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and featured in a celebrated dance duet with Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The jazz song has als ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) *''

Maynard '61 ''Maynard '61'' is an album by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded in late 1960 and early 1961 and originally released on the Roulette label.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson discography accessed May 11, 2016 Reception Scott Yanow ...

'' (Roulette, 1961) With the

Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...

*'' Off Limits'' (Polydor, 1970) *''

Change of Scenes ''Change of Scenes'' is an album by saxophonist Stan Getz, Francy Boland and the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band which was released on the Verve label in 1971.

'' (Verve, 1971) with Stan Getz As a soloist Rick Kiefer *'' Lush Life'' (Omega, 1975) with Rob Pronk and Jerry van Rooyen

References

Living people American trumpeters American male trumpeters 1939 births Musicians from Cleveland 21st-century trumpeters 21st-century American male musicians James Last Orchestra members {{US-trumpeter-stub