Variety is… Few things can prepare you for the randomness you experience as a freelance trumpet player! Two weeks later…

The wonderful journey started when I boarded the bus for a one week tour of the midwest/northwest with the Artie Shaw band. There is nothing like sharing the bandstand with such great players day after day on a tour. After spreading the swing I returned to NY and went immediately into the recording studio to do horn tracks for a Bachata album – my first. A last minute phone call then took me to Miami for a day to perform some Konpa music with Haitian superstars Djakout. Back in NY I enjoyed a great Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends on my day off. Then, back to work as I headed south to Atlantic City for rehearsals and a great show with 3 mega Chinese Pop stars – another first. A great yet very interesting gig for sure. The run was topped off with a short jaunt up to Philly to perform a Casino lounge gig before finally heading home.

I love this life and I am always grateful for the opportunities that are presented me! It’s far to often that musicians choose to put on the blinders and only recognize on one style or one scene. Although I believe there is value in concentrating your studies I don’t think that there is virtue in shunning other styles or music scenes. There are many great experiences to be had in this life and they should all be embraced. In the words of Duke Ellington “There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.”

So I’ve been a little lax about keep everything up to date here. A lot of great things have gone down this summer, so please check out the site to catch up. Thanks

I’m pretty excited to announce that one of my tunes is going to be on TV. A song I penned for Ikebe Shakedown (A funky A%$ band I’m very proud to be a member of) has been selected by Mini Cooper for use in their upcoming television campaign! Click on the link to check it out. Sunday in Rio – Mini Cooper Commercial

If you’re ever in Budapest, hit one of the Turkish Bath Houses for a day. You’ll be glad you did!

It’s here! Ikebe Shakedown has finally released our first full length recording "Ikebe Shakedown"on Ubiquity Records. With the release we are putting out a 45rpm, a full length LP, and an extended CD with bonus tracks. I am honored to have several of my own compositions included on the sides and equally honored to share some grooves in the vinyl with such an talented group of funky individuals!

I Just had another great tour with the wonderful Artie Shaw Orchestra. During my tenure here on the east coast I have been fortunate to do many great tours with this band and this was another one of them. We might have done more daily millage than I have ever done on a bus tour, but come show time, the band was swingin’ hard every night. A great time in a great trumpet section (w/ Harden Butcher, Vitaly Golovnev, and Kerry MacKillop). Our show at the Montreal Jazz Festival was definitely a highlight!

Welcome to my new site! It’s been a long time coming – upgrading from my old site to this new one. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up with all the great news I’d like to get out to you with this new website format! Please drop by from time to time and keep in touch with the world of Jason Colby.