AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE (USA)

Ambrose Akinmusire is a thrilling young trumpeter with great technique and unique spark in his playing. The phenomenal musicians’ talent has been widely recognized amongst fans and jazz critics and rewarded with the Thelonious Monk and Paul Acket awards. Jazz magazine DownBeat described his music as “spectacular and not at all shy” and chose him as the best trumpeter three years in a row from 2014-2016.

Born in California, jazz studies brought Akinmusire to New York and finally to Los Angeles Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute. In 2007, he won the international Thelonious Monk jazz competition and released his debute album “Prelude…to Cora”. Returning to New York broadened the young musicians’ performing opportunities and he had the chance to collaborate with Espreanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer and Jason Moran. One of the leaders of the record label Blue Note, Bruce Lundvall was amazed by his talent and in 2011 his second album “When The Heart Emerges Glistening” was released under the same label.

In 2014, his third album “The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint” was released and the same year Akinmusire also won the Paul Acket award at North Sea Jazz Festival. His concert album “A Rift in Decorum: Live at the Village Vanguard” was released in 2017.

During his career, Akinmusire has wandered on the paths of classical music and hiphop in addition to jazz. While searching for new sounds, the trompetist crosses the borders of genres, often being inspired by other types of art too. Ambrose Akinmusires’ bold compositions are graceful and full of poetry.