Winterlude – Trent Austin Quartet
February 19, 2023 | Polsky Theatre
Past Event
As a trumpeting Renaissance man, Trent Austin plays jazz classics with the influences of classical and contemporary music.
Celebrated trumpet artist, educator/clinician and entrepreneur, Trent Austin is a trumpeting Renaissance Man. His brilliant performances and recordings in both the jazz and classical music worlds, as well as packed-house master classes, have garnered him rave reviews, awards and international acclaim.
A prodigy, in high school Austin performed at the opening of Euro-Disney and was a featured performer at the 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival. He was selected first trumpet of the Maine All-State Music Festival and was awarded a full music scholarship to the University of New Hampshire to study classical trumpet. Austin’s other early career awards include being named to the prestigious Berklee Grammy High School Jazz Band in 1993 and designated lead trumpet of the 1995 Disney All-American Show Band. He was a featured soloist at the 1996 Harmony Ridge Brass Festival and at the 1997 Lake Placid Institute of the Arts Seminar.
As an in-demand pro, Austin has performed with a lengthy list of music’s who’s who: Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Jack Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Peter Erskine, Arturo Sandoval, Hal Galper, Dick Oatts, Marvin Stamm, Red Holloway, Jesse Davis, Dick Johnson, Kenny Werner and Bob Wilber. For 11 years, Austin was a featured trumpet soloist with the famed Artie Shaw Orchestra. He is currently a first-call performer in the Boston Metro and Southern New England areas.
Austin has recorded four CDs: Trumpet 101 (2001), Two-Toned (2006), Meditations for Solo Trumpet (2009) and Trumpet 102 (2012). Each of these efforts demonstrates his impeccable command of his instrument and marvelous artistic approach.
Austin has studied jazz improvisation privately with greats Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Werner and Chuck Findley and engaged in extensive studies with Hal Crook and Charlie Banacos. His primary classical instructors include studies with Robert Stibler of the University of New Hampshire, Benjamin Wright of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Edward Carroll, formerly musical director of the New York Trumpet Ensemble.
Fiercely dedicated to the cause and development of music and jazz education, Austin was a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine for nine years and regularly provides clinics and master classes nationwide at trumpet and brass conferences, including the International Trumpet Guild Conference. Austin maintains an active teaching studio providing trumpet and jazz improvisation lessons in Kansas City, Missouri, and worldwide via Skype.
Support provided by Peter Goulet.