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Vincent Gardner

2014 Downbeat "Rising Star" Trombone Award Winner and "Rising Star" Vocalist Nominee Vincent Gardner (born in Chicago, Illinois) is an trombonist and composer. As a bandleader, Gardner has released four albums under the SteepleChase record label. He performs with his own groups frequently, in addition to being the lead trombonist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (which also features Wynton Marsalis). Gardner also performs often with his brother, trumpeter Derrick Gardner and his ensemble, The Jazz Prophets.

Being born into a musical family in which both his father, Burgess Gardner, a trumpeter who has played with many groups including Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Horace Silver, and his mother, a pianist and choir director, are both music educators, Gardner was surrounded by music at an early age. The family moved to East Lansing, Michigan when Gardner was five, while his mother and father completed their doctorate studies at Michigan State University, and then to Virginia Beach, VA when Gardner was six years old, later settling in Hampton, VA. His mother being a church musician, he was at church often for services and choir rehearsals, and began singing in the choir as soon as he was of age, providing him with his earliest musical experiences.

As a beginning musician, Gardner started on the Violin, but soon switched to saxophone and French horn. Around age 13, since his father and brother both played trumpet, he decided to play trombone. He developed an interest in jazz music around the 11th grade after being selected to play in the Hampton All-City Jazz Ensemble, and being introduced to jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson by its director.

By the time he graduated from high school, he had made up his mind to pursue a career as a professional musician, and attended Florida A&M University, studying classical trombone and Music Education. In 1995 he transferred to The University of North Florida, and in 1996, Gardner obtained an undergraduate degree in Jazz Trombone Performance. He then moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue his musical career, subsequently performing with several notable ensembles and musicians, including The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Illinois Jacquet, The Saturday Night Live Band, Lauryn Hill, Matchbox 20, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, and others.

During the 2003-2004 academic year, Gardner became the Visiting instructor of Jazz Trombone at Michigan State University. He has continued to be an active educator, having taught at Florida State University, and The New School in New York City. Most recently Gardner was the Instructor of Jazz Trombone at The Juilliard School.

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8
Album Review

Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets: Pan Africa

Read "Pan Africa" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A big man with a big plan and a boisterous sextet at his back, trumpeter Derrick Gardner and his razor-fine Jazz Prophets unapologetically and unflinchingly blow the walls down with Pan Africa. Hyperbole? Not really. Just let Gardner and company free on Jackie McLean's hopscotching “Appointment In Ghana" (from Jackie's Bag, his first for Blue Note in 1960). And feel the fever, fervor, and drive. Long time Jazz Prophet's alto/tenor saxophonist Robert Dixon, and trombonist brother Vincent Gardner ...

3
Album Review

Glenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...

5
Album Review

Glenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Jack Bowers


When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names “Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), “Preludes for Memnon," “Wisdom of the Humanities" and “Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasing—but it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...

5
Album Review

Derrick Gardner & The Big dig! Band: Still I Rise

Read "Still I Rise" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Trumpeter Derrick Gardner, a Chicagoan who has performed around the world with a who's who of jazz luminaries from Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Foster to Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett and Harry Connick Jr., to name only a few, traveled to Winnipeg, Canada, to assemble and record his Big Dig! Band, several sizes removed from Gardner's sextet, The Jazz Prophets, a working group since it was formed in New York City in 1991. Gardner not only shines as trumpet ...

313
Album Review

Vincent Gardner: Three-Five

Read "Three-Five" reviewed by George Kanzler


The title here refers to both trombonist Vincent Gardner's age and the time signatures (3/4 and 5/4) of the majority of the tracks on this CD. Gardner says the “idea for the date was to try these pieces in a different meter. It's amazing that when you drop a beat and take a tune usually played in 4/4 down to 3/4 its character changes and therefore you respond differently." It's not really that straightforward; Gardner doesn't simply cast pieces in ...

606
Opinion

Let's Tribute Ourselves

Read "Let's Tribute Ourselves" reviewed by Vincent Gardner


Like many other jazz musicians, I am fortunate enough to travel all over the globe and present this wonderful music. While I haven't been playing professionally for an extremely long time--only about 15 years--during those years I have seen quite a bit of change in the world and on the jazz scene. Not that it compares with New York of the '30s, '40s or '50s, but, compared to 2009, think of how much more work there was in the late ...

219
Album Review

Vincent Gardner: The Good Book: Chapter One

Read "The Good Book: Chapter One" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Although his major claim to fame up to this point has been time spent with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, trombonist Vincent Garner is a very likely candidate for the category of talent seeking of wider recognition. As a follow-up to his debut set Elbow Room (Steeplechase, 2006), this effort not only sheds light on his skills as a trombonist but also reminds us of the musical legacies of Frank Foster and Horace Silver. The Good Book: Chapter One brings ...

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66

Performance / Tour

Trombonist Vincent Gardner to Perform in Daytona Beach on January 22

Trombonist Vincent Gardner to Perform in Daytona Beach on  January 22

Source: Barbara Salter Nelson

The North East Florida Jazz Association (NEFJA) will present trombonist Vincent Gardner in concert on Sunday, January 22 at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. This year marks NEFJA's 25th anniversary. Gardner, 39, is the lead trombonist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the musical direction of Wynton Marsalas. He has performed and recorded with other jazz notables including Marcus Roberts, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra, Harry Connick, Jr., McCoy Tyner, Nancy ...

174

Performance / Tour

Trombonist Vincent Gardner at the Hilton Harrisburg & Towers on February 22

Trombonist Vincent Gardner at the Hilton Harrisburg & Towers on February 22

Source: All About Jazz

The Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz (CPFJ) continues our 29th year of monthly concerts by presenting the Vincent Gardner Quintet in performance on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 5:00 at the Hilton Harrisburg & Towers, Second Floor Ballroom, One North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA. The Central Dauphin East Jazz Band led by Keith Richardson opens for Mr. Gardner.

CPFJ has always taken great pride in bringing top musicians on their instruments to our area. Trombone players are no exception. Masters ...

115

Festival

Florida Grassroots Jazz Society Won't Let the Music Die

Florida Grassroots Jazz Society Won't Let the Music Die

Source: All About Jazz

Refusing to let the music die, the North East Florida Jazz Association (NEFJA) extended the auction of the Title Sponsorship to the 3rd Annual Legacy Jazz Festival for one more round of bids when there were no takers on the first round. The new item number is #150231217018 and the bidding will remain open until April 8 at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The quaint beachside county that, for two years running, was the fastest growing county in the US, now ...

"Gardner plays with maturity and confidence..." - AllAboutJazz.com

"Gardner is an impressive, well-rounded trombonist, fleet and nimble in a boppish uptempo zone and blessed with vocalistlike expressivity when elegance is required." - JazzTimes

"Gardner’s sound is mellow but contains enough toughness to keep things interesting." - JazzTimes

Primary Instrument

Trombone

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Vincent Gardner has been one of Jazz's most in-demand teachers for the last 10 years. As lead Trombonist of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, he leads and conducts workshops, one on one private lessons, group instruction, and ensemble instruction year round and at Jazz at Lincoln Center for Beginning to Advanced ensembles. Special workshops are also available for children. For rates contact [email protected].

Clinic/Workshop Information

Vincent Gardner has been one of Jazz's most in-demand jazz clinicians for the last 10 years

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

FOUR + Six

Jazz Hang Records
2024

buy

Pan Africa

Impact Jazz
2023

buy

Transformation

Tiger Turn
2021

buy

Still I Rise

Impact Jazz
2020

buy

The Good Book Chapter...

SteepleChase Records
2011

buy

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