Ambrose Akinmusire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ambrose Akinmusire
Performing in Oakland, California, 2014
Background information
Born	(1982-05-01) May 1, 1982 (age 43) Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Composer, musician
Instruments	Trumpet
Years active	2007 – present
Labels	Blue Note/Capitol/Universal

Ambrose Akinmusire (born May 1, 1982) is an American jazz musician. He is known for playing the trumpet and composing unique jazz music.

About Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire grew up in Oakland, California. He was part of the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble. There, he met famous saxophonist Steve Coleman. Steve Coleman was impressed and asked Ambrose to join his band, Five Elements, for a tour in Europe. Ambrose also played with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

His Education and Early Career

Ambrose studied music at the Manhattan School of Music. Later, he went back to California. He earned a master's degree at the University of Southern California. He also attended the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles.

In 2007, Ambrose won two big jazz awards. These were the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. These are very important awards in the jazz world. That same year, he released his first album, Prelude... to Cora.

After that, he moved back to New York City. He started playing with other great musicians. These included Vijay Iyer, Aaron Parks, Esperanza Spalding, and Jason Moran. He also got the attention of Bruce Lundvall, who was the head of Blue Note Records.

Albums and Awards

Ambrose Akinmusire released his first album with Blue Note Records in 2011. It was called When the Heart Emerges Glistening. He played with his band, which included Walter Smith III on saxophone and Gerald Clayton on piano.

His third album, The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint, came out in 2014. His album Origami Harvest was named one of the best jazz albums of 2018 by The New York Times.

In 2020, his sixth album, On the Tender Spot of every Calloused Moment, was released. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Ambrose also played on a song for the famous rapper Kendrick Lamar. .....

He has won many other awards too. These include the Paul Acket Award in 2014. He also won the Doris Duke Artist and Impact Awards. From 2013 to 2020, he won the trumpet category in the DownBeat Critics Poll every year. He was also named Jazz Artist of the Year in 2011.

Ambrose Akinmusire's Music

Ambrose Akinmusire has released several albums as the main artist. Here are some of his most well-known works.

Albums as a Leader

Albums as a Sideman

Ambrose Akinmusire has also played on many albums with other artists. Here are some of them.