World-renowned trumpeters. Recommended trumpet players who are active on the global stage.
Who comes to mind when you think of trumpet players?
In jazz, you might think of Louis Armstrong or Miles Davis; in the classical world, perhaps Matthias Höfs or Sergei Nakariakov.
We also can’t leave out Wynton Marsalis, often acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest trumpeters in both jazz and classical music.
In this article, we’ll introduce famous trumpeters who are active on the world stage.
We’ll feature artists across jazz and classical, regardless of gender or nationality, and we hope you’ll find a new favorite player as you read.
- Trumpet Masterpieces | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Curated Selection of Striking Pieces
- Songs with cool trumpet. Introducing famous pieces from wind ensemble and jazz.
- Famous Clarinetists of the World — From Classical to Jazz
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- [2026] Introducing recommended jazz medley videos!
- Practice pieces for beginner trumpet players
- Classic swing jazz tunes. Recommended popular songs.
- Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
- [2026] Summary of popular saxophonists abroad. Recommended saxophonists.
- Famous pianists you should listen to at least once. Recommended pianists.
- [2026] Discover Today's Jazz! A Roundup of the Latest Spotlight and Popular Tracks
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- Impressionist Music: A Comprehensive Introduction to Masterpieces of the Impressionist Movement That Enliven Classical Music History
Famous trumpeters of the world. Recommended trumpet players active globally (21–30)
Night in TunisiaArturo Sandoval
A jazz trumpeter from Cuba who later defected to the United States.
Influenced by Dizzy Gillespie—famous for “A Night in Tunisia”—and Charlie Parker, he became a bebop performer.
He has won 10 Grammy Awards, 6 Billboard awards, and an Emmy Award.
He is also an accomplished pianist and has released albums on piano.
Scarlatti “Symphony No. 6 in A minor”Bernard Soustrot
A trumpet player from Lyon, France.
After graduating from a conservatory, he received various music awards.
He became principal trumpet of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and has served as a professor at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory since 1989.
Famous trumpeters of the world. Recommended trumpet players active globally (31–40)
Opening StatementBooker Little
Booker Little, born in 1938, was an American jazz trumpeter and composer.
In 1958, he recorded his first leader album, “Booker Little 4 & Max Roach,” in New York, marking the start of his career.
He was active in genres such as hard bop and avant-garde jazz, establishing a distinctive sound.
The purity of his tone, the consistency across his full register, and the beautifully shaped, vibrant lines flowing from his playing stood out from his earliest recordings.
He collaborated with many prominent musicians, including John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy.
Particularly interested in the possibilities of dissonance, he pursued musical freedom.
Highly recommended for those who want to explore new possibilities in jazz.
Night in TunisiaDizzy Gillespie
An African American musician, famous for helping to establish the bebop style together with alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.
His trademark was a custom trumpet with the bell angled 45 degrees upward, and he was known for playing with his cheeks puffed out.
A Night in Tunisia became a modern jazz standard.
Bemsha SwingDon Cherry
Don Cherry, an American-born jazz musician, is known as a trumpeter and composer.
He played a vital role in the free jazz movement, pursuing music that transcended the traditional boundaries of jazz.
Debuting in the 1960s, he was active in Ornette Coleman’s quartet.
His album Mu, released in 1970, showcases his experimental approach.
Don Cherry’s music is characterized by a distinctive style that fuses jazz, free jazz, and traditional music from around the world.
He was also noted for activities beyond music, such as establishing a charitable organization named after his first wife, Rosemary, who passed away in 1997.
Highly recommended for those who want to explore new musical possibilities.
FuegoDonald Byrd
An American jazz trumpeter.
He also has the distinction of studying the civil rights movement at university and earning a doctorate.
His leader album “Fuego” means “fire” in Spanish.
His funky, pathos-filled performances are popular in Japan as well.
Red CrayFreddie Hubbard
An American-born trumpeter.
He is known for creating a genre called free-bop, which integrates bop, modal, and free jazz.
The track is one of Hubbard’s signature works, offering hard bop that highlights Hubbard’s exhilarating, high-velocity playing.