Art Farmer

Though his early development attracted limited notice, Art Farmer’s steadily inventive trumpet work earned broader recognition as his musical maturity deepened. Together with Clark Terry, he played a significant role in establishing the flügelhorn as a favored instrument among brass players. A natural lyricism lent personal distinction to his bop-centered improvisational language. Before committing to trumpet, Farmer trained on piano, violin, and tuba. From 1945 onward he based himself in Los Angeles, appearing regularly on Central Avenue and performing in groups led by Johnny Otis, Jay McShann, Roy Porter, Benny Carter, and Gerald Wilson, among others; several of those ensembles also included his twin brother, bassist Addison Farmer (1928-1963). After working with Wardell Gray from 1951 to 1952 and touring Europe with Lionel Hampton’s big band in 1953, he settled in New York, where he performed with Gigi Gryce between 1954 and 1956, joined Horace Silver’s Quintet from 1956 to 1958, and became a member of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet from 1958 to 1959. During the second half of the decade he participated in numerous recording sessions, including dates with Quincy Jones and George Russell as well as several jam-session dates for Prestige. He then co-led the Jazztet with Benny Golson from 1959 to 1962 before leading a group with Jim Hall from 1962 to 1964. In 1968 he moved to Vienna, joined the Austrian Radio Orchestra, performed with the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, and continued to tour with his own ensembles. From the 1980s onward he returned to the United States with increasing frequency and remained in steady demand until his death on October 4, 1999. Across the years he recorded prolifically as a leader for Prestige, Contemporary, United Artists, Argo, Mercury, Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, Soul Note, Optimism, Concord, Enja, and Sweet Basil.