4 LATIN JAZZ FAMOUS TRUMPET PLAYERS

1. Arturo Sandoval
Born in Artemisa, Cuba on November 6, 1949, Arturo Sandoval began classical trumpet studies at age 9. Inspired by bebop trumpet legend Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval dove headfirst into jazz and after several years, he became a member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna. Frustrated by the Cuban government’s lack of support for jazz, several Orquesta members formed Irakere. The group “hid” jazz concepts underneath traditional Cuban musical forms, resulting in an explosive stylistic fusion. The group became a worldwide sensation and won a Grammy award for a live recording, The Best of Irakere. Sandoval formed his own band in 1981 and became a musical icon. He gained political asylum in 1990, moved his family to Miami, and began a music career in the United States. Since then, he has performed around the world and won numerous awards. His recordings have ranged from the Latin Jazz of 1995’s Danzón (Dance On), the Straight-Ahead Jazz of the 1996 recording Swingin’ to the Symphonic beauty of the 1995 recording The Classical Album. Actor Andy Garcia portrayed Sandoval in the 2000 movie documenting his life, For Love or Country. A constant whirlwind of musical activity, Sandoval has taken Latin music to new heights through his incredible virtuosity and sensitive musicality.

2. Brian Lynch
Brian Lynch learned music both on-stage with Wisconsin greats such as Buddy Montgomery and academically at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. His professional journey began in 1981, when he moved to New York and quickly established himself with both Jazz and Latin musicians. During his first years there, he performed with Horace Silver, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Angel Canales, and Hector LaVoe. Lynch’s Postbop flare made him an integral figure in the last incarnation of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. On a series of late Blakey recordings, Lynch also contributed compositions such as “Chandek’s Den” and “Green Is Mean”. His knowledge of clave brought fire to Eddie Palmieri’s Afro-Caribbean Jazz Octet on a series of legendary recordings including Arete, Palmas, and Vortex. As a bandleader, Lynch built a reputation as a forward thinking musician that naturally blends diverse influences. The 1997 recording Spheres of Influence explored Reggae, Bop, Salsa, and Funk, while the 2004 album with trombonist Conrad Herwig Que Viva Coltrane looked at John Coltrane through the eyes of Latin music. In 2006, Lynch collaborated with one of his mentors, Eddie Palmieri, winning a Latin Jazz Grammy for the album Simpatico. Lynch’s thorough Jazz roots and Latin sensibility have now made him an essential voice in modern Latin Jazz.

3. Diego Urcola
Diego Urcola grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina immersed in music, through his father’s role as music director at the Colegio Ward. After graduating from the Conservatorio Nacional de Music, he traveled to the Berklee School of Music in Boston. After completing Jazz studies, Urcola moved to New York and quickly established himself as a major trumpet voice. He became a core member of Paquito D’Rivera’s group, contributing to a range of projects including the Grammy Award winning recording Live at the Blue Note and the D’Rivera led United Nation Orchestra’s A Night in Englewood. The straight ahead jazz world also recognized Urcola’s musical prowess, and he worked with Slide Hampton, Joe Henderson, and Milt Jackson. He appeared in the 2001 Latin Jazz documentary Calle 54, and then toured the world with the film’s All-Star band. Amidst this busy performance career, Urcola earned a master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Queen’s College, studying under legendary jazz master Jimmy Heath. Urcola began recording as a bandleader with 1999’s Libertango, and earned Grammy nominations for 2003’s Soundances and the 2006 recording Viva. He shines in the East Coast Tango Jazz scene through his own work; his compositions contributed to D’Rivera’s repertoire, and his work with bassist Pablo Aslan’s Avantango. Now a regular voice in the jazz community, Diego Urcola continues to explore musical ideas through a variety of Latin Jazz settings.

4. Jerry Gonzalez
Jerry Gonzalez grew up in the Bronx with a dual musical personality, reflecting his love of both jazz and Afro-Cuban music. He began playing trumpet in high school, and then later added a mastery of the congas. Together with his brother Andy (You can read more about Andy Gonzalez, in 5 Latin Jazz Bass Players That You Must Hear!), Jerry formed the Latin Jazz Quintet, playing small combo Latin Jazz. He built a reputation among New York’s Latin music community, and then moved onto the world stage as a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s band in 1970. A year later, he left Gillespie to join pianist Eddie Palmieri’s band, before quickly jumping again to join his brother in Manny Oquendo’s Libre. In 1979, Gonzalez released his first album as a leader, Ya Yo Me Cure, which showcased his adventurous, organic, and exciting Latin Jazz approach. He revisited small group Latin Jazz with his formation of The Fort Apache Band that startled the Jazz community with their brilliant rethinking of Thelonious Monk on the 1989 recording Rumba Para Monk. The Fort Apache band continued recording throughout the nineties until Gonzalez moved to Spain and dove into Flamenco music. The resultant album, Jerry Gonzalez Y los Piratas del Flamenco displayed a new combination of Flamenco and Jazz, anchored by Gonzalez’s immense musicality. The Fort Apache Band returned with a 2005 tribute to Art Blakey, Rumba Buhaina, and ever since, Gonzalez has divided his time between the States and Spain. Intense and passionate, Gonzalez stretches musical boundaries, and his trumpet continues to walk the line between jazz experimentation and Latin daring