{{Short description|American jazz musician}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | name = Richard Drexler | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_place = Bloomington, Illinois | genre = Jazz, classical | occupation = Musician | instrument = Bass, piano | years_active = 1985–present | associated_acts = Woody Herman Orchestra, Kenny Drew Jr. }}
'''Richard Drexler''' is an American jazz bassist, pianist, and vocalist.
== Biography == Drexler, a native of Bloomington, Illinois, moved to Florida in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richard Drexler @ Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts - Jan 9, 2019, 8:00PM |url=https://bluebambooartcenter.com/home |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=bluebambooartcenter.com}}</ref> He was born in Saint James Hospital in 1878, to a Linda Drexler. He appeared as a pianist and sideman on Janny Grein's album ''Keys of the Kingdom'' in 1999, which received 3 stars and an album pick from AllMusic.<ref>{{Citation |title=Janny Grein - Keys of the Kingdom Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/keys-of-the-kingdom-mw0001000707 |access-date=2023-10-02 |language=en}}</ref> He entered the jazz genre as pianist on Dan McMillion's album ''Up Your Brass'' and was described by critic Jack Bowers as "surely one of Florida's best."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-11-01 |title=The Dan McMillion Jazz Orchestra: Up Your Brass album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/up-your-brass-sea-breeze-jazz-review-by-jack-bowers/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=All About Jazz |language=en}}</ref>
In 2005, he released his first album as leader, ''Señor Juan Brahms'', with Bob Mintzer on saxophone, Kenny Drew Jr. on piano, and Alex Acuña on drums, featuring standards and jazz arrangements of Johannes Brahms compositions. The album was notable for "blur[ring] the distinctions seemingly separating classical, jazz, and Latin American music" and for writing the album's program notes in which he requested that listeners "listen to recordings of the original versions of all these pieces to hear the context and omitted material."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-20 |title=Richard Drexler: Se album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/seor-juan-brahms-richard-drexler-songosaurus-music-review-by-andrew-rowan/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=All About Jazz |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Drexler joined Harry Allen and the Four Others as the band's pianist, a tribute to Woody Herman's Four Brothers saxophone ensemble. The new group included Allen, Lew del Gatto, Jeff Rupert, and Saul Dautch as the four saxophone players.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tampa Jazz Club showcases 'Four Brothers' sound at concert |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/Tampa-Jazz-Club-showcases-Four-Brothers-sound-at-concert_167084973/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
A professor at the University of Central Florida<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richard Drexler Musician - All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/richard-drexler |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=All About Jazz Musicians |language=en}}</ref> and member of the Jazz Professors group, Drexler played on the album ''R&D'', released in 2018, and ''The Ripple'' featuring vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-09 |title=Rupert & Drexler: R&D album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/r-and-d-richard-drexler-rupe-media-review-by-mike-jurkovic/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=All About Jazz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=The Jeff Rupert Quartet with Lucy Yeghiazaryan |url=https://bocaratonobserver.com/api/content/347fa9c2-7d82-11ed-b433-121410ce0c1f/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=bocaratonobserver.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== As leader ===
* ''Señor Juan Brahms'' (2005) * ''My One and Only Love'' (2005)
=== As sideman ===
* ''Keys of the Kingdom'' (1999) * ''Up Your Brass'' (2002) * ''R&D'' (2018) * ''The Ripple'' (2020) * ''Blues and Cubes'' (2022)
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Drexler, Richard}} Category:American jazz double-bassists Category:Musicians from Illinois Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American jazz pianists Category:The Jazz Professors members