2026 Jazz @thePoint: Jon Faddis
Known around the world as one of the most innovative and inspiring jazz trumpeters of our time, Jon Faddis is also a conductor, composer and educator. His friend and mentor Dizzy Gillespie actually said of Faddis, “He’s the best ever, including me!” Inspired by Armstong and Gillespie, Faddis has worked in Lionel Hampton’s band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, eventually becoming lead trumpeter for the latter. He formed his own quartet and directed orchestras, including the Grammy-winning United Nation Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the Carnegie Hall Centennial Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York. He has also served as guest conductor and featured guest with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
