Festival of New Trumpet Music

04/08/2025

This Friday, Manhattan School of Music celebrates our 2011 Award of Recognition recipient Kenny Wheeler and the release of the new book “Song For Someone: The Musical Life Of Kenny Wheeler” by Nick Smart and Brian Shaw. The recording exploring an undiscovered treasure of rarely-heard works by this iconic composer was released on January 31 by Greenleaf Music / Dave Douglas (https://greenleafmusic.com/kenny-wheeler-legacy-release/)

https://www.msmnyc.edu/performances/msm-jazz-arts-presents-a-masterclass-on-the-musical-life-of-kenny-wheelerfeaturing-dave-holland-and-nick-smart/

Kenny Wheeler - tp, flhJohn Taylor - pJohn Abercrombie - gDave Holland - bPeter Erskine - dr1. HOTEL LE HOST2. BALLAD 143. FOXY TROT4. JUMPIN' IN5. BY MYSELF...

12/28/2024

Did you miss our festival this year? You can watch all the virtual concerts and all the festival recaps in the archive.

For example, the performance of the French trumpeter Yoann Loustalot, who is pictured here. Or the other virtual artists this year: Rachel Therrien (Official), Feya Faku & Kirsi-Marja Harju.

https://fontmusic.org/archive

12/16/2024

What an incredible year it's been for the Festival of New Trumpet Music! We celebrated our 22nd season of groundbreaking performances, inspiring artistry, and unforgettable moments that redefined the possibilities of trumpet music.

This year’s festival again brought together an amazing community of musicians and fans, united by a shared passion for innovation and creativity.

Let’s keep the music alive and thriving! If you believe in our mission to support groundbreaking trumpet music, we’d love your support. Every contribution makes a difference. 🙌 Donate today https://fontmusic.org/donate

Artists 2024
Rachel Therrien (Official) Feya Faku Yoann Loustalot Kirsi-Marja Harju Jon Faddis Philharmonic Dave Douglas Dave Adewumi Alex Ridout Sharif Kales Nabaté Isles Trumpet James Zollar Satish Robertson Ben Neill Erin Connelly

11/21/2024

This year, we finally had the pleasure of experiencing Ben Neill live. He is the Gyro Gearloose of the trumpet world and the visionary behind the Mutantrumpet – an electro-acoustic instrument with a wide range of control capabilities that he invented in 1980 and continues to develop to this day. After his outdoor show unfortunately had to be canceled last year due to bad weather, intimate and vibrant atmosphere of public records was the perfect place for this immersive multimedia performance, which also closed this year's festival.

📷 Lukas Frei

11/19/2024

To conclude this year’s festival, we were pleased to welcome Baltimore-based trumpeter Erin Connelly to New York. She opened the final evening in a trio with Joe Fiedler and Zachary Swanson, featuring the unique chamber music combination of cornet, trombone, and upright bass. It was a dynamic and engaging performance, rounding out the festival of 2024.

📷 Lukas Frei

10/28/2024

For the second-last day of this year’s festival, we worked with a place with a long and rich history. For the opening of the 30th season of Sista’s Place, we were able to bring together four trumpeters with a great rhythm section. With original compositions and pieces by important pioneers for our instrument, they presented a varied program to a sold-out house and an enthusiastic audience.

Sharif Kales, Nabaté Isles Trumpet, James Zollar, and Satish Robertson (tp), Luis Perdomo (p), Mimi Jones (b), Will Terrill (dr)

Before the concert, Club Ahmed Abdullah, its long-standing artistic director, was honored as a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association.

„A Jazz Hero in many worlds, fueled by what he calls jazz: ‚the music of the spirit.‘ He’s a native New Yorker who has traveled the spaceways in Sun Ra’s Arkestra, worked with myriad professional and community organizations, remains an active educator and has established his personal trumpet sound, noted for clarity, gusto, ambition and good cheer.“ – Jazz Journalists Association

10/19/2024

Continuing with this weekend's
Dizzy Gillespie Gillespie Birthday Celebration with
Jon Faddis and Friends
Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Friday, October 19, through Monday, October 21, 2024
Jon Faddis & Friends Big Band
Personnel for SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024

Jon Faddis, trumpet and leader

SAXOPHONES
, first alto
, second alto
, first tenor
, second tenor
, baritone saxophone

TRUMPETS
, lead trumpet
, second trumpet
, third trumpet
, fourth trumpet
, guest trumpet

TROMBONES
, first trombone
, second trombone
, third trombone
, fourth trombone

RHYTHM SECTION
, piano
Kiyoshi Kitagawa, bass
Dion Parson, drums
, percussion

SPECIAL THANKS TO
All of the musicians who came before us (Dizzy, Chano, Chico and more), all the musicians here now including
David DeJesus for his work organizing and educating, and Michael Mossman for his great arrangements,
all at Dizzy's Club (including chef and kitchen, wait staff, managers and sound engineers) and especially the wonderful audiences!

Thanks especially also to all of the musicians in this debuting Faddis and Friends Big Band, slightly different each of these four evenings, yet many whom I have had the honor of teaching as a Professor at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, Purchase College, SUNY, since basically 1999. These young (to me at least, now 71) professionals are united as alumni of the Studies program (which is now just entering its fourth decade at !) and their artistry and dedication to music. I am proud to hear these musicians play!

And more congratulations to Wynton Marsalis as he celebrates his 63rd trip around the sun, and to Jazz at Lincoln Center as it celebrates 20 years of the !

One more note:
The late night set for tonight at Dizzy's Club is
. and his EXCITEMENT BAND!
Check it out if you can!

10/17/2024

🎺✨ Day 4 of the festival was all about honoring a true legend! We had the opportunity of celebrating the incredible Jon Faddis. Renowned musician, teacher, and mentor, Jon has inspired generations with his talent and wisdom.

We celebrated at the iconic Louis Armstrong House Museum, where Bruce Harris, trumpeter and the museum’s program director, led an amazing concert, performing both for and alongside Jon and an exceptional band.🎶🙌

We also presented Jon with a unique trophy, handmade by the master craftsman Josh Landress of J. Landress Brass, to honor his significant contributions to the music community and his decades of dedication and artistry.

📷 Lukas Frei

10/13/2024

Dave Douglas, visionary founder of the Festival of New Trumpet Music, has revived his project Alloy for this year's festival with two rising trumpet stars — Alexandra Ridout and Dave Adewumi. These two have been making waves with their distinct voices in the jazz scene for a while now, and together they delivered an unforgettable performance at the legendary The Jazz Gallery. With fresh compositions from Douglas himself, the energy was electric, thrilling a packed house at this iconic venue and longtime festival partner.

📷 Lukas Frei

10/06/2024

We are excited to share the incredible experience of hosting another event outside of New York City! 🎺✨ For nearly two decades, the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in Buffalo, New York, has provided a platform for a vibrant and diverse community - a perfect backdrop for our collaboration with the University at Buffalo Music Department. We were thrilled to present amazing performances, including the dynamic duo of Teressa-Jo Izzo & Kyle Gustafson, Tim Clarke s seven-piece ensemble, and the Genkin Philharmonic, which debuted exclusive commissioned works.

09/29/2024

We are saddened by the passing of John McNeil. With John McNeil (March 23, 1948 – September 27, 2024), the trumpet and jazz community has lost an absolutely outstanding trumpeter, composer and teacher.

„McNeil has long been a forward-looking voice on the instrument in jazz, influencing many in subsequent generations. His unique view of jazz practice has opened doors for countless players.“ – Dave Douglas

In 2016, we honored John with the FONT Award of Recognition for his work and recognized him as one of the world's most original and creative jazz artists, as well as for his tireless experimentation and stylistic versatility.

📷 Lukas Frei, FONT 2016 at The New School

09/25/2024

✨ What an unforgettable Tribute Night! 🎶 Bruce Harris, renowned trumpeter and Program Director at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, paid homage to both the legendary Louis Armstrong and his mentor, Jon Faddis. 🙌 Backed by an incredible band, Bruce delivered a performance that truly honored the legacy of these jazz icons. 🎺✨

🙏🏻 A big thank you to all the musicians and co-organziers from the FONT team Dave Douglas, Riley Mulherkar, Rich Johnson, Lukas Frei

📷 by Lukas Frei

09/24/2024

🎶🎺 What a way to kick off this year’s festival! The first night, Jordan McLean and ARMO lit up the iconic space at Fotografiska in Manhattan, delivering an unforgettable tribute to the legends of afrobeat 🌍🔥 alongside their own originals. The energy was elevated with talented soloists Julie Acosta & Grace Fox adding more brass power to the stage ✨.

This was just the beginning of a week filled with diverse sounds and unforgettable performances. 🎵💥

🙏🏻 A big thank you to all the musicians and co-organziers from the FONT team Dave Douglas, Riley Mulherkar, Rich Johnson, Lukas Frei

📷 by Lukas Frei

09/18/2024

Performance at public records in Brooklyn to close the 2024 Festival of New Trumpet Music.

09/15/2024

✨ Get ready for an unforgettable finale at this year’s festival! 🎺

Opening the night at public records in Brooklyn, we have the trio led by Baltimore-based trumpet player and improviser Erin Connelly, joined by Joe Fiedler on trombone and Zachary Swanson on double bass.

The visionary behind the Mutantrumpet, Ben Neill, is set to take the stage for the second part. Immerse yourself in his ambient soundscapes, accompanied by mesmerizing interactive video projections — a true feast for the senses.

Don’t miss this unique musical experience!

🗓️ Date: Sunday, September 15�
🕕 Time: 8:00 PM (doors open 7:00 PM),�
📍 Location: Public Records, 233 Butler St, Brooklyn, NY

09/13/2024

"Festival cofounder Dave Douglas leads a newly reconstituted version of Alloy, the band he initially formed with veteran trumpeters Baikida Carroll and the late Roy Campbell Jr. This time Douglas is the senior member, working with fellow trumpeters Dave Adewumi and Alexandra Ridout; vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, bassist Kate Pass, and drummer Rudy Royston complete the lineup." – Steve Smith

🗓️ Date: Friday, September 13
🕕 Time: 7:30 / 9:30 PM
📍 Location: The Jazz Gallery, 1158 Broadway, 5th floor (entrance on 27th st), New York NY 10001

Dave Douglas (trumpet), Alexandra Ridout (trumpet), Dave Adewumi (trumpet), Patricia Brennan (vibes), Kate Pass (bass), Rudy Royston (drums)