John Fumo

John Fumo (born 5 June 1957) is an American trumpet, flugelhorn, and electric trumpet player.

He has performed and recorded with several musicians, as a leader or a member, and has also worked as a studio musician on several movies and television series.

John Fumo was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1957.

He received his bachelor's degree in classical/jazz music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (1975—1979).

After completing his music education, Fumo moved to Los Angeles to further his music career. While working with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, he was introduced to multireedist Vinny Golia, with whom Fumo worked on many future recordings. Golia is also the founder of Nine Winds Records, on which Fumo released many of his works.

In March 1982, Fumo played trumpet on Vinny Golia's jazz album Compositions For Large Ensemble (Nine Winds Records). The album was recorded at Schoenberg Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles, California, with Eric Von Essen, Roberto Miranda (bass); Bobby Bradford, Doug Wintz, John Rapson, and Michael Vlatkovich (brass); Alex Cline (percussion); Wayne Peet (piano); Nels Cline (producer); Rickey Kelly (vibraphone); John Carter, Tim Berne, and Wynell Montgomery (woodwind).

In March 1985, Fumo played trumpet and flugelhorn on The Vinny Golia Quintet's avant-garde jazz album Goin' Ahead (Nine Winds Records). Recorded at DSR Studio in Los Angeles, he was accompanied by Ken Filiano (bass), Alex Cline (drums), and Wayne Peet (piano).

In July 1986, Golia produced Fumo's debut jazz album After The Fact on Nine Winds Records. Recorded at Mad Hatter Studio in Los Angeles, Fumo was with Steuart Liebig (bass guitar); Michito Sanchez (congas); Chris Mancinelli (drums); Nels Cline (guitar); Wayne Peet (keyboards); Rudy Regalado (timbales); Claude Cailliet and Fred Simmons (trombone); Dan Fornero, Dave Norman, and Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet).

In the following years, Fumo cut many records on Nine Winds Records as part of The Vinny Golia Large Ensemble. On July 14, 1984, they made a live recording at Hop Singh's in Marina del Rey, California, of Facts Of Their Own Lives, with Fumo playing trumpet with Eric von Essen and Roberto Miranda (bass); Wayne Peet (piano); Steve Fowler, Tim Berne, and Wynell Montgomery (saxophone); Doug Wintz, John Rapson, and Michael Vlatkovich (trombone); Ralf Rickert (trumpet); Bill Masonheimer (tuba); David Johnson (vibraphone, marimba); and Alex Cline (percussion).

Other recordings with Golia's band:

• 1990: Pilgrimage To Obscurity
• 1993: Decennium Dans Axlan
• 1994: Commemoration
• 1995: Tutto Contare
• 1997: Portland 1996
• 2000: The Other Bridge (Oakland 1999)
• 2012: Overview (1996-2006)

In 1987/88, Fumo was part of The Bluenotes, a backing band for the celebrated Canadian singer Neil Young. With Fumo were Ben Keith (guitar + saxophone); Larry Cragg and Steve Lawrence (saxophone); Tommy Bray (trumpet); Chad Cromwell(drums); Claude Cailliet (trombone); Frank (Pancho) Sampedro (keyboards); and Rick Rosas (bass). The band recorded two Young albums on Reprise Records—This Note's For You (released 1988) and Bluenote Café (released 2015).

In the nineties, Fumo was in The G. E. Stinson Group with Alex Cline and Steuart Liebig. In February 1992, they released The Same Without You on Nine Winds Records.

Fumo then worked with percussionist Dan Morris, violinist Jeff Gauthier, and Jeff McCutchen in a contemporary jazz ensemble led by bassist Steuart Liebig and made three recordings: Hommages Obliques (1993), Lingua Oscura (1995), and Pienso Oculto (1997).

In those years, Fumo also worked with The Brian Setzer Orchestra and released three rockabilly/swing/jazz albums. In 1994, he played trumpet on their debut album The Brian Setzer Orchestra alongside Bob Parr (bass); Bernie Dresel (drums); Gary Stockdale (piano); Ray Herrmann, Steve Fowler, Don Roberts, and Bob Sandman (saxophone); Bruce Fowler, Mark Jones, Dana Hughes, and Art Valasco (trombone); Ramon Flores and Dan Fornero (trumpet). It was followed by Guitar Slinger in 1996 and The Dirty Boogie in 1998.

The Dirty Boogie is considered the breakthrough for Setzer's band. It features "You're The Boss" with vocals by Gwen Stefani and also carries covers of many famous songs—Louis Prima's 1956 hit "Jump Jive an' Wail" from his album The Wildest! "This Old House" by Stuart Hamblen; "Since I Don't Have You" by The Skyliners; "Nosey Joe" by Bull Moose Jackson; and "As Long As I'm Singin'" by Bobby Darin.

In 2003, Fumo, as a member of "Splinter Group" with DJ Chowderhead (turntables), G. E. Stinson (guitar), Kaoru (vocals and percussions), and Steuart Liebig (bassist) released a jazz/rock album Blowing Down Blue Sky on W.D.T.C.H.C.

In June 2011, Fumo joined Alex Cline, David Witham, Joel Hamilton, and Nels Clinein The Jeff Gauthier Goatette and released a 7-track album Open Source on Cryptogramophone Records.

Fumo formed a trio "Other Three" with saxophonist Kim Richmond and percussionist Brad Dutz. They self-released Chasing Ingrid and Other Three_III in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

In July-September 2013, Fumo played trumpet and flugelhorn on Kronomorfic's avant-garde jazz album Entangled (OA2 Records) at The University Of California in San Diego. He was with Andy Zacharias and Mark Dresser (bass); Paul Pellegrin (drums); Paul Garrison (electric guitar); Emily Hay (flute); Peter Sprague (guitar); Ben Schachter and David Borgo (saxophone); Michael Dessen (trombone); and Anthony Smith and Brad Dutz (vibraphone, marimba).

In 2017, Fumo was a member of Brad Dutz's 10tet with Charles Fernandez, Chris Votek, Chris Wabich, Jasper Dutz, Kim Richmond, Paul Sherman, Trey Henry, and William Roper. In May that year, they self-released a contemporary jazz album Ten Technicians Titled Ted.

Next, Fumo was in Wayne Peet's Doppler Funk with Alex Cline, Bruce Fowler, Ken Rosser, Nels Cline, Steuart Liebig, Trevor Ware, and Vinny Golia. They released two albums—Blasto! (2017) and Real Reality (2019).

2022 saw the release of The Jeff Kaiser Ockodektet's free improvisation jazz record 132350 on pfMENTUM Records (owned by Jeff Kaiser). It was recorded in November 2011 at the Conrad Prebys Music Center at the University of California, San Diego, with Steuart Liebig (bass guitar); Mark Dresser (contrabass); Tom McNalley (guitar); Brad Dutz, Rich West (percussion); Wayne Peet (piano); Michael Dessen, Michael Vlatkovich (trombone); Brad Henkel, Dan Clucas, Daniel Rosenboom, and Kris Tiner (trumpet); Vinny Golia and Andrew Pask (woodwind). The album features vocals by Bonnie Barnett and Dick Wood.

Fumo has toured with many world-class musicians including Neil Diamond (2005-06 and 2008-09 world tours), Neil Young (1989-90 world tour), Brian Setzer (1997-2000 world tours), John Tesh (1994-95 US tour), and Tito Puente (Japan and US).

Over the years, Fumo has played, recorded, and toured with many leading musicians including Neil Young, Herbie Hancock, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, David Crosby + Stephen Stills + Graham Nash, Smokey Robinson, Avenged Sevenfold, Barry Manilow, Barbara Streisand, Harry Connick Jr., Brian McKnight, Celine Dion, Tower of Power, Faith Hill, Al Jarreau, Whitney Houston, Juan Gabriel, k.d. lang, James Brown, Ricky Martin, Phoebe Snow, John Tesh, Bon Jovi, Mel Tormé, Celia Cruz, Seu Jorge, Dianne Reeves, Carlos Santana, Bebel Gilberto, Michael Feinstein, Lionel Richie, Jewel, Cheb Khaled, Don Was, and Barbra Streisand.

Fumo teaches music at the California Institute of the Arts, Santa Clarita, and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Fumo is married to his wife Kelly McCall, a singer.

Fumo has worked on music for many movies and television shows.