Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire – Composer in Residence 2023

Every generation of trumpeters looks for a star to admire and navigate by, like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. For some years now, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire has been the star to follow. And now he is coming to Norrbotten, as Norrbotten Big Band’s next Composer in Residence.

His professional journey began at high school in Orlando when saxophonist Steve Coleman promptly took the young trumpeter on his European tour. A few years later (2007), his studies were crowned by winning the two most prestigious prizes for jazz musicians: the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition.

Ambrose then moved to New York, where he eventually collaborated with musicians such as Vijay Iyer, Aaron Parks, Esperanza Spalding and Jason Moran. This was followed by his debut on Blue Note Records in 2011 with the album When the Heat Emerges Glistering.

But Ambrose’s artistry does not want to be framed in a single form. Many of his projects reflect an interest in contemporary music and the spaces where other forms of expression meet. Participation in Kendrick Lamar’s iconic 2015 hip-hop release To Pimp a Butterfly is just one example of Ambrose Akinmusire’s curious approach and sought-after skills. His music also bears clear traces of his African-American heritage and his family’s Nigerian origin.

The comparison with another central tenet of jazz is not out of the blue. Saxophonist Archie Shepp describes how John Coltrane, immediately after rehearsals and concerts, continued to practice and practice again:

– My stepson Martin made the same observation about Ambrose when we were rehearsing and playing in Toulon, France. I immediately thought of when “Trane” played with Thelonius Monk at the Five Spot club, how he would walk off the stage and into the kitchen to continue playing (practicing) until the next set began – without taking the mouthpiece out of his mouth!

From this story, we understand that Ambrose is a rare breed, a musician who constantly seeks depth and opens doors to new possibilities and conquests. And we certainly hear it in his music, which captures the inner workings of logic, but is willing to be overwhelmed by explosive outbursts that often end up in beautiful and tender compositions. It is his sparkling, warming and sometimes minimalist trumpet playing together with extremely talented compositions that have made the jazz world take this unique trumpeter – who was nominated for a Grammy Award for his latest album On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment – to their hearts. Likewise, we are very pleased that Ambrose Akinmusire has chosen to collaborate with us in the Norrbotten Big Band in 2023.

Leaders:
Joakim Milder

Compositions and trumpet :
Ambrose Akinmusire

Saxophones:
Håkan Broström
Jan Thelin
Mats Garberg
Robert Nordmark
Per Moberg

Trombones
Michał Tomaszczyk
Kristian Persson
Karin Hammar
Björn Hängsel

Trumpets:
Bo Strandberg
Magnus Ekholm
Dan Johansson
Jacek Onuszkiewicz

Bass:
Petter Olofsson

Drums
Sebastian Ågren

Piano:
Britta Virves

Place: Fasching, Kungsgatan, Stockholm, Sweden
Price: 150 – 300 SEK
Date: 19. 11. 2023
Time: 20:00

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