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Born in Oakland, California on July 24, 1953, Jon Faddis began playing
the trumpet at age eight, inspired by an appearance of Louis
Armstrong on the Ed Sullivan Show. Three years later, his trumpet
teacher Bill Catahano (an alumnus of the Stan Kenton Band) turned Jon
on to Dizzy Gillespie with whom he subsequently appeared at the famed
Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. Two days before his 18th birthday, Jon
joined the Lionel Hampton Band as a featured soloist, and in the same
year was invited to sit in with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band on one
of their regular Monday night sessions at the Village Vanguard. Mr. Faddis
toured and recorded with this band for four years and also studied at the
Manhattan School of Music during this period. By the age of 20, Jon had
gained a myriad of accolades from the critical press and Dizzy Gillespie
declared
..hes the best ever - including me!
Since then, Jon Faddis has become known throughout the world as one of the most innovative and inspiring
jazz trumpeters of our time. He has an unfailing commitment to the education of young musicians and
frequently conducts clinics and master classes to help the next generation of jazz musicians.
In 1999, Jon was appointed Artist-in-Residence at the Conservatory of Music, Purchase College, State
University of New York, where he teaches in both the Brass and Jazz Faculties.
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