About this Artist
JON FADDIS is a complete and consummate musician – conductor, composer, and educator. As a trumpeter, Faddis possesses a virtually unparalleled range and full command of his instrument, making the near impossible seem effortless. Born in 1953, Faddis began playing at age seven, inspired by an appearance by Louis Armstrong on television. Meeting Dizzy Gillespie at 15 proved to be a pivotal beginning of a unique friendship that spanned almost three decades. Shortly before his 18th birthday, Faddis joined Lionel Hampton’s band, and moved from Oakland, CA to New York. He worked as lead trumpet for the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Village Vanguard (and on tour all around the world), formed his own quartet, and soon began directing orchestras, including the Grammy-winning United Nation Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, the Carnegie Hall Centennial Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (1992-2002), and the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York (2003-present). Faddis’ distinctive trumpet can be heard on hundreds of records and numerous soundtracks for film and television. His original compositions include the jazz opera Lulu Noire (1997); other Faddis compositions may be heard on his Grammy-nominated Remembrances [Chesky, 1998], Hornucopia [Epic, 1991], Into the Faddisphere [Epic, 1989], and his most recent release, Teranga [Koch, 2006].