Randy Napoleon

Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1977, Randy Napoleon developed an early fascination with jazz through his parents Greg and Davi, both dedicated listeners and enthusiasts of the genre. After the family relocated to Ann Arbor, MI, he earned a soloist prize at age 13 during the Heritage Jazz Competition held in nearby Ypsilanti and sponsored by WEMU-FM. At Pioneer High School he performed in the jazz big band led by trumpeter and educator Louis Smith. Following graduation he attended the University of Michigan, where he completed a B.F.A. in Music within its expanding jazz curriculum.

His professional path strengthened upon returning to New York City in 1999, when he entered pianist Benny Green’s trio and began private study with Randy Johnston, formerly based in Michigan. Ties to bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton originated during his college years after Hamilton heard him with the University of Michigan Big Band; this led to engagements with the Los Angeles-based Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra for recordings and tours, especially in Europe and Japan. Readers of Down Beat magazine voted the ensemble Best Jazz Big Band in 2003.

In fall 2004 Napoleon began a three-year association with Canadian pop-jazz vocalist Michael Bublé, performing in concerts and on numerous international television broadcasts. He subsequently joined the backup ensemble of vocalist Freddy Cole. Additional collaborations have included metro Detroit musicians Rodney Whitaker and Rick Roe as well as cabaret artists Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano. He has also partnered with contemporaries Josh Brown, Gerald Clayton, Julius Tolentino, and Sachal Vasandani, alongside veterans Houston Person and Grady Tate.

Whenever possible Napoleon leads his own trio featuring organist Jared Gold and drummer Quincy Davis, or pianist Benny Green and bassist David Wong. Critics have noted stylistic affinities with Wes Montgomery in his balanced approach to swing, soul, single-line phrasing, and chordal textures, reflecting an emerging artist committed to both tradition and broadly appealing jazz principles.