Biography
Trumpeter Allen Vizzutti stands out for his wide-ranging abilities as both performer and composer, with jazz as his primary domain of renown even while his classical output has grown considerably. Born in Montana, he first took up the trumpet under the guidance of his father, an instrumentalist on the same horn. He later studied at the Eastman School of Music, completing both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. During the 1980s he settled in Los Angeles and built a career as a session musician, appearing on numerous film, television, and commercial soundtracks. He also supported Chick Corea and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Prince, and other artists. Vizzutti next joined Doc Severinsen’s Tonight Show Band, co-producing its debut album in 1986; that release received a Grammy for Best Big Band Recording. Additional collaborations included appearances with Woody Herman and Chuck Mangione.
As a soloist, Vizzutti has performed with symphony orchestras worldwide in the classical repertoire, sometimes presenting his own works such as the “Emerald Concerto,” later captured on record with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared at major jazz festivals including Newport and Montreux, most often within a pop-tinged fusion framework. His compositional activity covers both classical and jazz ensembles, with several jazz pieces written expressly for younger students. Alongside his continuing role as an instructor at universities and music schools, he released the comprehensive volume The Allen Vizzutti Trumpet Method. His 1990s jazz recordings comprise Trumpet Summit and Skyrocket on the Summit label as well as two self-titled albums issued by Domo and Head First. His classical discs include Emerald Concerto & Other Gems, High Class Brass (assisted by frequent collaborator Jeff Tyzik) for De Haske, The Carnival of Venus from 1996 on Summit featuring his wife Laura on piano, and Baroque & Beyond for Sony.
As a soloist, Vizzutti has performed with symphony orchestras worldwide in the classical repertoire, sometimes presenting his own works such as the “Emerald Concerto,” later captured on record with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared at major jazz festivals including Newport and Montreux, most often within a pop-tinged fusion framework. His compositional activity covers both classical and jazz ensembles, with several jazz pieces written expressly for younger students. Alongside his continuing role as an instructor at universities and music schools, he released the comprehensive volume The Allen Vizzutti Trumpet Method. His 1990s jazz recordings comprise Trumpet Summit and Skyrocket on the Summit label as well as two self-titled albums issued by Domo and Head First. His classical discs include Emerald Concerto & Other Gems, High Class Brass (assisted by frequent collaborator Jeff Tyzik) for De Haske, The Carnival of Venus from 1996 on Summit featuring his wife Laura on piano, and Baroque & Beyond for Sony.
Albums