Wynton Marsalis is probably the most celebrated trumpet player of the last 40 years. Raised by a musical family in New Orleans, he exploded onto the national scene in the 1980s with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. From there, he became a trumpet superstar, releasing acclaimed, best-selling albums of both jazz and classical music. In the years since, he’s become an ambassador for jazz music and the trumpet. He’s led the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 1991, and he’s racked up multiple Grammy Awards and even a Pulitzer Prize. But just what is it about Wynton that has made him such an applauded figure and one of our absolute favorite trumpeters?

His Technique is unique.

There are many trumpeters out there with incredible technique, but Wynton has a special mastery of the instrument. His range is staggering—he can really wail with the best of them. But his control in the upper register is scarily precise. And when he descends back into the middle range of the instrument, his tone is rich and full.

Here you can get a good sense of the way he moves around the horn. Wynton’s flexibility is unparalleled, and even when playing lightning-fast lines, his articulation is crystal-clear.

‍He’s a master of multiple genres.

It’s pretty rare for a trumpeter to be celebrated in both jazz and classical music, but Wynton’s done it. In fact, he’s the only musician to win Grammys in both genres in the same year!

One of his most celebrated classical recordings is the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, which you can see a bit of here. Another is “Carnival of Venice,” featuring a series of showstopping variations that Wynton executes perfectly.

Just like in his jazz solos, Wynton’s classical playing is incredibly clean and wonderfully expressive. Though he’s gravitated away from classical repertoire as the years have gone on, Wynton still incorporates the genre into his original jazz compositions, such as 2019’s “Swing Symphony.”

He keeps it musical.

Wynton can play anything on the trumpet, but that doesn’t mean he’s all about showing off. Every high note or intervallic leap serves a musical purpose. For an example, check out this video from Live at the House of Tribes. Wynton’s not just trying to wow the crowd with high notes. Instead, he’s weaving lines that use the full range of the horn, taking the listener on an exciting musical journey that just happens to use three whole octaves.

Perhaps most importantly, everything Wynton does has an extremely tasty rhythmic feel. As a New Orleans native and dedicated historian of jazz, Wynton draws on the influence of masters like Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Cootie Williams to make all his lines swing hard, and he’s a master of accenting just the right notes to make everything feel good. In this backstage video from 2009, Wynton weaves line after line of perfectly phrased, perfectly articulated, hard-swinging deliciousness (and throws a few monstrous lips slurs in for good measure).

‍The complete player, and then some.

There’s nobody who does it quite like Wynton. With both powerful technique and impeccable control, he has crafted one of the most impressive, nuanced, and musical styles in jazz. And on top of that, he’s recorded some of the most iconic classical trumpet records of the last few decades. But he’s also more than just a performer. His original compositions for small group, big band, and orchestra have been acclaimed for their ambitious merging of styles. And his education efforts, from Jazz at Lincoln Center to his “Marsalis on Music” video series, have helped generations of young people fall in love with music. He’d be a legend for his playing alone, but Wynton Marsalis is also one of American music’s most original composers, prominent historians, and fiercest champions.

‍Recommended Listening:

‍To get deeper into Wynton’s work, we recommend checking out some of his recordings in full. He’s made dozens of records throughout the years, but here are a few good places to start:

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