Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Olusiji Akinmusire ( born May 1, 1982) is an American avant-garde jazz trumpeter and composer. Biography Born and raised in Oakland, California, Akinmusire was a member of the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble, where he caught the attention of saxophonist Steve Coleman, who was visiting the school to lead a workshop. Coleman hired him as a member of his Five Elements band for a European tour. Akinmusire was also a member of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. The same year, he released his debut recording, Prelude… to Cora, on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. Akinmusire made his debut on the Blue Note label in 2011 with the album When the Heart Emerges Glistening, featuring his quintet of tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Justin Brown. Akinmusire’s third album, entitled The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint, was released in 2014. His album Origami Harvest was included in The New York Times Best Jazz of 2018. His sixth studio album, On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment, again with his quartet of longtime bandmates and received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumenta