Ambrose and Friends
Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet; Dayna Stephens, tenor saxophone; Julian Lage, guitar; Taylor Eigsti, piano; Harish Raghavan, bass; Zach Harmon, drums

Wednesday, July 30 | 7:30 pm | Campbell Recital Hall
Tickets: $20 general | $10 students

Program Notes

Online:
By phone: 650.725.ARTS (2787); In Person: Stanford Ticket Office
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“While he may shrink from renown, Akinmusire is poised and confident on the bandstand, a resourceful player with a fat, crackling tone and a plethora of ideas.” – San Francisco Chronicle

What Stanford Jazz audiences have long known is now international jazz news: trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is the real deal. Ambrose has been a favorite performer and teacher at the SJW for years, and with his first place finish in the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, he has cemented his reputation as one of the most promising jazz artists of his generation. As an improviser, he takes big risks that always seem to pay off brilliantly, and his expressive trumpet sound has an almost vocal quality that draws the listener in. His unique style reflects his diverse influences, including classical music, pop, and the avant-garde. An alumnus of Berkeley High School, he has a master’s degree from USC and studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Monk Institute. Ambrose has performed with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Vijay Iyer, Yosvany Terry, and Stefon Harris, to name but a few, and he is featured on keyboardist Alan Pasqua’s acclaimed 2007 album The Antisocial Club.

Ambrose Akinmusire web site

Music link

Q&A with Ambrose Akinmusire

What is the first recording you remember hearing as a child?
I can remember listening to a lot of my mothers LP’s … my mom had a lot of blues & gospel records so I remember listening to things like Bobby Bland , James Cleveland but the one that I loved in the beginning and still do today was/is Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace concert.

Who is your favorite jazz musician under the age of 30?
I don’t have a favorite. Fortunately for me a have the opportunity to play with a lot of beautiful musicians under 30 because not only are they my friends but my peers . But I must say those Berkeley high Kids are KILLINNNN!!!!!

What job would you have if you weren’t a jazz musician?
Ha! Maybe a Psychiatrist … not because I think I have answers or anything like that. I just love to listen - you learn more this way. I like getting to know where people are coming from in everyday life and on the bandstand.

What’s your favorite food?
Mozzarella, tomato, and basil on bread - toasted … pretty simpe but tasty!

What’s the most exotic place you’ve traveled to as a musician?
Exotic? Well every place that I travel to that I haven’t been before has the same level of exoticism in it. Lets go with prettiest place … by far India.

What’s the last book you’ve read?
Like I said above I like to really see where people are coming from so the majority of what I read are interviews or autobiographies. I just finished Quincy Jones’s autobiography and also a book of Lee Konitz interviews by Andy Hamilton.

If you could play with any other musician, living or dead (with whom you have not played), who would it be and why?
Bjork and Joni Mitchell because they are truly invested in the moment!!!

What’s your favorite tune?
Equal Temperament.

What’s your favorite thing about being a Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty member?
Watching that Light Bulb turn on.

What’s your favorite jazz venue?
Anywhere people aren’t talking while I’m playing.

Who is your greatest musical influence?
Cora Campbell, Shabnam Piryaei, Steve Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have three recordings with you, what would they be?
Any records from the following people: Betty Carter, BJork, and Joni Mitchell.

How much do you practice each week?
I spend 20 – 40 hours a week on my horn.

What hobbies do you have?
I don’t believe in hobbies.

Do you have a favorite music-related joke (that can be told in mixed company!)?
What did the theory teacher say to the music student? You’re playing the wrong notes over the chords. HAAAAAAAA! That one gets me everytime!!!!

When did you become interested in music, and what circumstances or events led to your becoming a professional musician?
Professional? Man this is getting out of hand with all of the labeling and name-calling. Nothing has really changed from day one ‘til now in my relationship with music. I loved it and had fun then and I still do now. For me, a professional musician is someone who has fun with music and couldn’t live without it – not just someone who makes money by playing – ha, that’s the easy part!

If you were to describe your music as a color, what color would it be and why?
Alright I couldn’t think of anything clever to say to this answer soooo I’ll go with brown because it’s my favorite color and I’m also brown.