I published two pieces about Kenny Wheeler on the Festival of New Trumpet Blog at fontmusic.org. I’ve been volunteering for the festival since earlier this year, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with the people I’ve worked with so far. Taylor Ho Bynum, Rich Johnson and of course Dave Douglas, the festival’s founder and president, are all fantastic people to work with, and I look forward to getting even more involved in the festival. I haven’t met the board yet, but I anticipate that all the same things will apply to them as well. FONT has brought Kenny Wheeler to New York in order to perform his music and honor him for his achievements as both a trumpet player and a composer.

The first piece is a profile of Kenny’s career, meant to give context to his visit to New York for those who may not be very familiar with his large and diverse discography. For those who are fans of this veteran trumpeter, hopefully there will be some new information as well. The second piece is an interview with Nick Smart, a trumpeter, friend and student of Kenny’s. He has developed a special relationship with Kenny that is evident in how he talks about him. Enjoy!

Kenny Wheeler: Profile of an Incredible Career

On Kenny Wheeler: Interview with Nick Smart