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Jon Faddis

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Jon Faddis, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 28 November 2025
Jon Faddis
Born (1953-07-24) July 24, 1953 (age 73)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Jazz trumpeter, conductor, composer, educator
Years active1970s–present
Known forExceptional technical skill on trumpet; contributions to music education; leadership of Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Chicago Jazz Ensemble

Jon Faddis (born July 24, 1953) is a distinguished American jazz trumpeter, conductor, composer, and educator, celebrated for his exceptional technical skill and contributions to music education. Early in his professional journey, he attracted notice for his ability to closely replicate the trumpet style of the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, who was among his key mentors along with pianist Stan Kenton and trumpeter Bill Catalano.

Biography

Originating from Oakland, California, Faddis honed his trumpet skills as a member of the Oakland Symphony's Youth Chamber Orchestra under the direction of composer Robert Hughes. At age 18, he became part of Lionel Hampton's big band and subsequently took on the role of lead trumpet with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. In his early twenties, he collaborated with Charles Mingus and became a highly sought-after session musician in New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Among his notable contributions, Faddis played trumpet on the Players Association's rendition of "Disco Inferno" featured on their 1977 release Born to Dance. By the mid-1980s, he concentrated more on his solo endeavors, producing albums such as Legacy (1985), Into the Faddisphere (1989), and Hornucopia (1991). He also took on leadership and principal trumpet soloist roles for the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band as well as Dizzy's United Nation Orchestra.

Between 1992 and 2002, Faddis served as the conductor of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (CHJB), overseeing more than 40 performances and presenting upwards of 135 musicians along with over 70 guest artists. During this tenure, the CHJB premiered compositions from more than 35 different composers at Carnegie Hall.

In 1997, he composed the jazz opera Lulu Noire, which was featured at Spoleto Festival USA and the American Music Theater Festival. Additionally, Faddis appeared in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000, performing alongside the Louisiana Gator Boys.

His 1999 album Remembrances released by Chesky Records garnered a Grammy nomination and included arrangements by Argentinian composer Carlos Franzetti.

From its inception in 1998 until 2004, Faddis led the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars before assuming the role of artistic director for the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (CJE) at Columbia College Chicago. Under his guidance until 2010, CJE debuted new compositions, initiated educational programs centered on Louis Armstrong's repertoire within Chicago public schools, and broadened its audience by performing at venues including Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion. At the same time, he continued to direct the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York (JFJONY), which succeeded the CHJB.

In 2006, the Jon Faddis Quartet released Teranga through Koch Records/E1, featuring guest artists such as Clark Terry and Russell Malone. As of 2010, Faddis leads both JFJONY and his smaller ensembles—the Jon Faddis Quartet and JFQ+2. The JFJONY has been featured at prominent locations including The Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, Newport Jazz Festival, among others.

Faddis is also a respected educator at Purchase College-SUNY’s Conservatory of Music where he teaches trumpet and ensemble classes while conducting master classes internationally. He actively supports up-and-coming musicians through production involvement and performance opportunities.

In July 2011, he honored Miles Davis with a tribute performance at Prague Castle hosted by Czech President Václav Klaus.

A Schilke Performing Artist since 1970, Faddis has consistently played the Schilke "Faddis" model trumpet throughout his career recordings.

For the 2026 Grammy Awards, he received a nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Album category for The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Family and personal life

Faddis has made his home in Teaneck, New Jersey. He is also known as the uncle of renowned hip-hop producers Madlib and Oh No.

As leader

As sideman

With Peter Allen

With Patti Austin

With George Benson

With Anthony Braxton

With Rusty Bryant

With Kenny Burrell

With Michel Camilo

With Ron Carter

With Eric Clapton

With Linda Clifford

  • I'll Keep on Lovin' You (Capitol, 1982)

With Hank Crawford

With Bo Diddley

With Charles Earland

  • Several albums released on Prestige during the early to mid-1970s

With Gil Evans

With Jerry Fielding

  • Soundtrack for the film The Gauntlet, Warner Bros., 1977

With Aretha Franklin

  • Albums recorded for Arista in the early 1980s

With Michael Franks

With Dizzy Gillespie

  • Numerous recordings including leadership positions and serving as music director for Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars

With Grant Green

  • Releases on Kudu and Versatile labels throughout the mid to late 1970s

With Groove Holmes

With Milt Jackson

With Mick Jagger

With Billy Joel

With the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Big Band

  • Mid-1970s albums including live performances

With Chaka Khan

  • Destiny (Warner Bros. Records, 1986)

With Julian Lennon

Collaborations with various artists including O'Donel Levy, Les McCann, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Bette Midler, Charles Mingus, Blue Mitchell, David "Fathead" Newman, Jimmy Owens, Jaco Pastorius, Oscar Peterson, Lou Reed, Lalo Schifrin, Don Sebesky, Marlena Shaw, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Lonnie Liston Smith, Phoebe Snow, Leon Spencer, Candi Staton, Jeremy Steig, Gábor Szabó, Charles Tolliver, Tina Turner, Steve Turre, Stanley Turrentine, Frankie Valli, Cedar Walton, Randy Weston, Gerald Wilson, and Tatsuro Yamashita.}

External links

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