Biography
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When describing 23-year-old
trumpeter Alex Nguyen, listeners note an “old soul
that belies his twentysomething years” and the “astounding
expressiveness” of his playing.
From his early beginning as a piano student of his Godmother,
to his new crossing on the New York jazz scene, the Savannah,
Georgia native has always had a fascination with music.
After taking up the trumpet at age 10, Nguyen would discover
jazz at his arts high school and upon deciding to pursue
jazz, he would go on to complete his undergraduate degree
in the University of North Florida jazz studies program,
led by legendary jazz master Bunky Green.
While in Florida, Nguyen would perform with musicians such
as Fred Wesley, Lynne Arriale, Curtis Fuller, and Delbert
Felix. Also during this time, Nguyen was the winner of the
International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition and the Jamey
Aebersold Award for Artistry at the National Trumpet Competition,
and was among a handful of promising musicians invited to
participate in residencies with Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead
in Washington, D.C. and the Steans Institute for Young Artists
in Chicago. Among the venues Alex has performed are the
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Clifford Brown Jazz
Festival, the Ravinia Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival,
to name a few.
Nguyen now studies at SUNY Purchase under the tutelage of
trumpet luminary Jon Faddis, and since arriving in NYC in
2007, has already performed with the likes of Vincent Herring
and Jimmy Cobb. While immersing himself in the New York
jazz scene, Nguyen has completed the first extensive study
of cornetist Nat Adderley for his master’s thesis.
Most recently, one of Nguyen’s compositions, “The
First Year”, was released on pianist Kenny Barron’s
latest recording, The Traveler.
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