Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Cullen Knight is a jazz trumpeter and composer. Knight attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and studied trumpet with Gilbert Johnson and Sam Krauss (principal trumpeters) with the Philadelphia Orchestra for four years.
Cullen majored in music at Jules E. Mastbaum Avts High School in Philadelphia and studied trumpet at the Settlement Music School. He graduated from Mastbaum with honors and became a member of the schools distinguished alumnus that includes Johnny Coles, Ted Curson, Buddy Defranco, Henry Grimes, Lee Morgan, Red Rodney, Joe Wilder, and a host of others.
Cullen Knight was the principal trumpet and featured soloist with the Broadway Musical Company's New York production of the “Gershwin-Gala” 1991 and 1992 (European touring company.) He was also the featured jazz soloist with the hit Broadway musical “Bubbling Brown Sugar” for its 1976 & 1986 runs in Philadelphia and the shows' 1983, 84 and 85 European tours.
Cullen has performed with: Kenny Barron, Cab Calloway, Sam Cook, Billy Daniels, Marvin Gaye, Al Grey and Jimmy Forrest, Illinois Jacquet, Philly Joe Jones, Michel LeGrand, Melba Liston, Hank Mobley, Don Patterson, Grover Washington Jr., Nancy Wilson, and Stevie Wonder. He has played in trumpet sections with Johnny Coles, Ted Curson, Blue Mitchell, Dizzy Reese, Richard (Notes) Williams, Wilmer Wise, and Lamar Wright Sr...
In the USA, Mr. Knight has performed at such renowned venues as: The Academy of Music, Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall, New York City. Internationally, he has been a featured jazz soloist at The Theatre Des Westerns - Berlin, Dennis Swing Club - Hamburg, The Stadthalle - Vienna, Al Teatro Sistina - Rome, Cirque Royal - Brussels, The Grand Casino - Geneva, as well as numerous venues in England, Holland, and Scandinavia.
Discography: “The Life and Times, of Cullen Knight - Vol. 1 & 2” is available at http://www.cullenknightmusic.com/recordings.html - this 2 CD collection contains excerpts from four decades of recordings featuring Cullen Knight in the USA and abroad.
Last Updated: April 10, 2011
AS LEADER:
Date: March 1962
Location: Danny McCune Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Label: Cullen Knight Music
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Sam Dockery (p), Skip Johnson (b), Sherman Ferguson (d)
a. Think Twice - 03:34 (Cullen Knight)
b. Once Upon A Time - 02:34 (Cullen Knight)
Both titles on: - Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
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Date: June 26, 1965
Location: Starlight Lounge, Philadelphia, PA
Label: [private recording]
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Fred Simmons (p), Henry Grimes (b), Bill Byrd (d)
a. Whisper Not - 11:19 (Benny Golson)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
b. When Sunny Gets Blue - 06:35 (Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
c. Out With Henry (Big Baby Blues) - 02:04 (Cullen Knight)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
d. I've Got Your Number - 04:41 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
e. On Green Dolphin Street - 06:36 (Bronislau Kaper, Ned Washington)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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Date: March 17, 1975
Location: Virtue Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Label: Cullen Knight Music
Cullen Knight (ldr), Robert 'Bootsie' Barnes (ts), Cullen Knight (t), Fred Joiner (tb), Gerald Smith (g), Jimmy Batton (p), Kenny Davis (b), Newman Taylor Baker (d), Ed Watkins (per), Leon Mitchell (arr)
a. A'Keem - 05:31 (Leon Mitchell)
b. Here Comes Billy - 04:46 (Leon Mitchell)
Both titles on: - Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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Date: November 1977
Location: M.S.I. Studios, Pennsauken, NJ
Label: Cullen Knight Music
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Monnette Sudler (g), Kenny Barron (p), Charles Fambrough (b), Bobby Durham (d)
a. Once You Get It - 07:34 (Cullen Knight)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
b. Once You Fall In Love - 07:21 (Cullen Knight)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
c. Looking Up - 08:36 (Cullen Knight)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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Date: April 15, 1984
Location: Dennis Swing Club, Hamburg, Germany
Label: [private recording]
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Dennis Busby (p)
a. I Can't Get Started - 04:59 (Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
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Date: April 18, 1984
Location: Dennis Swing Club, Hamburg, Germany
Label: [private recording]
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Dennis Busby (p), Earl Dawson (b), Harold Smith (d)
a. Once In A While - 05:14 (Michael Edwards, Bud Green)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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Date: April 24, 1984
Location: Dennis Swing Club, Hamburg, Germany
Label: [private recording]
Cullen Knight (ldr), Cullen Knight (t), Dennis Busby (p), Earl Dawson (b), Harold Smith (d)
a. Sonnymoon For Two - 02:19 (Sonny Rollins)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
b. Four - 04:39 (Miles Davis, Eddie Vinson)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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Date: April 1986
Location: Fresh Tracks Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Label: Cullen Knight Music
Cullen Knight (ldr), Arthur Daniels (ts), Cullen Knight (t), Fred Joiner (tb), Skip Burney (g), Bill Jolly (p), Bret Jolly (b), Newman Taylor Baker (d), George Townes (v)
a. When I Fall In Love - 04:09 (Edward Heyman, Victor Young)
Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-319 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 1 (1962-1986)
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Date: May 14, 1989
Location: St. Peter's Church, New York City
Label: [private recording]
Cullen Knight (ldr), Lance Bryant (ww), Cullen Knight (t), Gerry Eastman (g), Uri Caine (p), Marcus McLaurine (b), Newman Taylor Baker (d)
a. Mister 8 - 09:04 (Cullen Knight)
b. She Doesn't Love Me - 05:45 (Cullen Knight)
Both titles on: - Cullen Knight Music CD: CKM-320 - The Life And Times Of Cullen Knight, volume 2 (1965-1999)
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