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.
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Famous trumpeters of the world. Recommended trumpet players active globally (31–40)
Bitter Sweet SambaHerb Alpert
An American pop-jazz trumpeter.
In Japan, “Bittersweet Samba,” the opening theme of the late-night radio show All Night Nippon, is exceptionally famous.
Together with Jerry Moss, he co-founded the American record label A&M Records and also produced artists such as the Carpenters and Janet Jackson.
Hector’s HouseIan Carr
Ian Carr, a jazz master born in Scotland, began his career in the 1960s with The EmCee Five, then went on to The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet, and achieved success in the 1970s with Nucleus.
His 1972 album Belladonna is highly regarded as a hybrid of jazz, fusion, and rock.
Evoking Miles Davis’s electric era, it fuses the comfort of jazz with the rhythmic drive of rock to stunning effect.
Carr’s innovative approach had a major impact on jazz-rock and fusion, and he remains beloved by many music fans and musicians today.
Highly recommended for those seeking new musical possibilities.
He Loves YouJerry Hey
Hay, an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and arranger with accolades including Grammy Awards in arranging categories, is a versatile artist active not only in fusion but also in pop and R&B, and he has contributed to numerous works by Japanese artists.
Lotus BlossomKenny Dorham
A jazz trumpeter from Texas, USA, and one of the leading figures of bebop.
In addition to working as a sideman, he left many recordings with his own groups, such as the Jazz Prophets.
In 1959, he released Quiet Kenny, which includes tracks like Lotus Blossom.
In contrast to the energetic Kenny heard on Afro-Cuban, he is known as the “quiet” Kenny.
Gnu SuiteKenny Wheeler
A jazz trumpeter from Canada.
He was active mainly in the United Kingdom from the 1950s.
This track is from his leader album “Gnu High,” recorded with Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette.
Famous trumpeters of the world. Recommended trumpet players active internationally (41–50)
I Remember CliffordLee Morgan
An American jazz trumpeter who was active during the hard bop era.
Hailed as a second coming of Clifford Brown, he earned acclaim for “I Remember Clifford” from his 1957 album Lee Morgan Vol.
3.
While Miles Davis is the most famous jazz trumpeter, many fans hold Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown in especially high regard as pure “trumpet craftsmen.”
Haydn Trumpet Concerto, 3rd movementRolf Smedvig
An American trumpet player and one of Maurice André’s students.
He played trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and later served as the leader of the Empire Brass quintet.
Although not very well known in Japan, many trumpet players acknowledge that his skill rivals that of Maurice André.