Photo by Andrea Canter

I first heard trumpeter Terrell Stafford when he played with Bobby Watson’s Horizon a number of years ago at the old Dakota in St. Paul. In the last year I had the pleasure of hearing the Terrell Stafford Quintet twice—on the new Dakota stage during the 2004 Hot Summer Jazz Festival and a few weeks later at the Iowa City Jazz Festival. So it feels like “old home week” when the TSQ returns to the Dakota for three nights of live recording for MaxJazz, June 13-15.

Miami native Stafford grew up in a musical family, mostly living in Chicago and suburban Washington, DC. He was a relatively late bloomer on trumpet, which he did not begin to play until he was thirteen. Initially studying classical music, his budding interest in jazz was reinforced while attending the University of Maryland (music education) where he played in the college jazz band. "One of my first and most profound musical influences was and is Clifford Brown," notes Stafford. "When I first heard him play 'Cherokee' I was in total awe of his playing." Following advice from Wynton Marsalis, Stafford pursued a Master’s in music performance at Rutgers University where he studied with Dr. William Fielder. Soon he hooked up with Bobby Watson and Horizon, and remained with Watson for five years. McCoy Tyner also took an interest in Stafford’s career, and the young trumpeter joined Tyner's Latin All-Star Band, which featured trombonist Steve Turre, flutist Dave Valentin, and percussionist Jerry Gonzalez.

For the past ten years, Stafford has performed with Cedar Walton, Sadao Watanabe, the Clayton Brothers, Herbie Mann, Kenny Barron, Matt Wilson, and big bands, including Jon Faddis' Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Wynton Marsalis' Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the soundtrack for the film, "A Bronx Tale," and with the Billy Taylor Trio on NPR’s Jazz at the Kennedy Center. His recordings as a leader have included "Time to Let Go" (Candid, 1995), "Centripedal Force" (Candid, 1997), "Fields of Gold," (Nagel-Heyer, 2000), and “New Beginnings” (MaxJazz, 2003). In addition to his busy performance and recording schedule, Stafford is a dedicated educator as an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia and on the faculties of the prestigious Vail Foundation in Colorado, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Program, and the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies in New York. Mentor McCoy Tyner notes, "Terell is one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player. He has his own voice on his instrument—a very personal sound. And while he is right within the tradition, he is making his own inroads. That is what distinguishes him as an excellent player!"

Photo by Andrea Canter

Photo by Andrea Canter

Don’t miss the chance to be part of the live audience when the Terrell Stafford Quintet comes to the Dakota, June 13-15, two sets each night, 7 and 9 pm.

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Visit www.dakotacooks.com for reservations.

Photo by Andrea Canter