John Daversa

John Daversa is a multi-Grammy winning American jazz trumpeter, electronic valve instrument (EVI) player, composer, arranger, big band leader, and educator. He was born in Los Angeles and moved to Ada,Oklahoma at age 7. He is the son of Jay Daversa, former trumpet player for Stan Kenton and Los Angeles studio musician.

Daversa has degrees from UCLA, California Institute of the Arts, and a doctorate from USC. He is Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at University of Miami, Frost School of Music and directs the Frost Concert Jazz Band. Before this appointment, he taught the Jazz Studies Program at California State University, Northridge. He regularly performs with the John Daversa Progressive Big Band, John Daversa Small Band, and is a guest conductor and soloist all over the world.

Daversa has worked with Moonchild, Fiona Apple, Burt Bacharach, Joe Cocker, Andraé Crouch, Gin, Herbie Hancock, Holiday on Ice, Bob Mintzer Big Band, Renee Olstead, Regina Spektor, Andy Williams, and The Yellowjackets. His playing has been featured on film and television, including The Five-Year Engagement, Key and Peele, The King of Queens, and Promised Land.

His album American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom (BFM Jazz, 2018) won three Grammy Awards at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards: Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, "Don't Fence Me In" won in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category, and "Stars and Stripes Forever" won in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category.

As Leader

• Live at Catalina's (Daversafications, 2009)
• Junk Wagon: The Big Band Album (BFM Jazz, 2011)
• Artful Joy (BFM Jazz/Challenge, 2012)
• Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles (BFM Jazz, 2016)
• Wobbly Dance Flower ft. Bob Mintzer (BFM Jazz, 2017)
• American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom (2018)

Singles

• "I Love the 405" (Daversafications, 2010)
• "Quo" (BFM Jazz, 2013)

Collaborations

Compilations

• The Roads They're Taken - International Trumpet Guild (2009)
• The Generosity Water Project (2010)
• Jazziz: Critic's Choices and Other Voices (2012/2013)

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• December 2017 Global Music Awards Gold Medal Winner, Composer and Album: Wobbly Dance Flower (BFM Jazz, 2017)
• June 2016 Global Music Awards Gold Medal Winner, Large Jazz Ensemble, Composition/Composer, Band, Album, Innovation in Sound, SoundMixing/Editing: Kaleidoscope Eyes (BFM Jazz, 2016)
• December 2011 Global Music Awards, Best in Show, Award of Excellence for Creativity/Originality and Production Junk Wagon: The Big Band Album