One of the world's three greatest jazz trumpeters

 

Jon Faddis Quartet China Tour - Shanghai

 

 

Jon Faddis, born July 24, 1953, is an American jazz trumpet player and conductor. He also composes music and is an educator. His playing skills are well-known as well as his knowledge in the field. He was first on the scene and became famous for his ability to imitate the sound of Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton trumpeter Bill Catalano. He is also the uncle of Madlib, an acclaimed producer of hip-hop music.

 

Jon Faddis was a born in Oakland, California on December 23, 1953. He joined Lionel Hampton’s Big Band at age 18, before becoming a member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra’s lead trumpet. Faddis, who had been playing with Charles Mingus during his 20s, became a well-known studio musician in New York. He appeared on many popular recordings in the late 1970s/early 1980s. He left the studios in the mid-80s to pursue his solo career. This led to albums such as Legacy, Into The Faddisphere, and Hornucopia. He was able to grow as a musician and an individual artist through his leadership of the DizzyGillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, and Dizzy’s United Orchestra. From 1992 to 2002, Faddis was the chief trumpet soloist for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band at Carnegie Hall.

 

The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band presented more than 40 concerts, hosted over 70 guests artists and featured works by over 35 composers. Faddis was also the leader of the Dizzy Giillespie Alumni All-Stars, and the Dizzy Gilpie Alumni All-Stars BIG Band. He was then appointed the Chicago Jazz Ensemble’s artistic director. Faddis was the leader of The CJE from fall 2004 to spring 2010. He created significant new music, led educational initiatives in Chicago public school that focused on Louis Armstrong’s music and brought The CJE to new venues. Faddis also managed the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchester of New York, which is the successor of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. Faddis is now the leader of the JFJONY. He also continues to lead the Jon Faddis Quintet and the JFQ.

 

Faddis is a New York City first call lead player and has a reputation for his ability to play the full range of the trumpet, especially the highest registers. You can hear his distinctive trumpet playing on many themes, including “Lil’ Bill”, “The Wiz,” or “Bird,” as well as other popular ones. Faddis, in addition to his professional playing, is also a well-respected educator for jazz and the trumpet. He also performs as a clinician for Schilke Trumpets (made in Melrose Park, Illinois). Faddis plays a Schilke S-42L in gold-plated with some modifications of his design. Prior to that, he used a B6L with a beryllium bell and a gold-plated S-06L. Scott Laskey of Lombard, Illinois made his mouthpieces. Jon Faddis, a trumpet teacher at The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College SUNY in Westchester, New York for over ten years, continues to teach there. He continues to honor mentors by leading master classes, clinics, workshops and workshops all over the globe. He often brings promising students along to his gigs to allow them to join in. He also produces a number CDs for young musicians.