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Josh McDonald

Jazz trumpeter Josh McDonald is the Coordinator of the Jazz Ensembles at Boston University, where he directs the Wednesday Jazz Combo and the Jazz Chamber Lab, and teaches a Jazz History course entitled Jazz Now: a look at the #BAM movement. He is a member of Music Performance and Education, Inc (MP&E).

Josh has performed all over the country, including at Somethin’ (NYC), Fenway Park (Boston), Bank of American Pavilion (Boston), House of Blues (Boston), the Jazz Station (Eugene, OR), and the Institute of Contemporary Art. His big band compositions have been performed by Boston University Big Band, Fresno City College Big Band, and the Nipomo High School Big Band. His small group compositions have been performed in the US, Singapore, and Germany.

He has performed with a host of jazz greats, including Brian Blade, Scott Engelbright, Conrad Herwig, Geoff Keezer, Kevin Mahogany, Andy Martin, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Carl Saunders, Ed Shaughnessy, Bobby Shew, Rick Stone, Anthony Wilson, and Gerald Wilson. He’s also performed with Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, soul singer Lou Pride, and indie rock group Foster the People.

Josh completed his undergraduate work at the Smittcamp Family Honors College at CSU, Fresno. You can hear his most recent playing and composing on Breathe (a 2012 release from Kev McDonald), and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (a 2013 release from the Russ Wilcox Jazz Ensemble).

When not performing or studying, Josh enjoys collaborating with the SBS Fellowship, riding bikes with his wife, playing soccer, eating gluten-free muffins, and Walden Pond… the place, not the book.

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