Jazz trumpeter Thomas Heflin is a rising star in the jazz world. He has been featured or mentioned in Italy's Jazz Magazine, The Pittsburgh Tribune Review and The International Trumpet Guild Journal among others. In 2005, he placed second in the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition in Seattle, WA, an event which was judged by jazz trumpet greats Ingrid Jensen, Terell Stafford and Scott Wendholt. While Heflin's style is unique and personal, it is firmly rooted in the traditions of jazz."I'd say I'm most heavily influenced by Clifford Brown, Louis Armstrong, Nicholas Payton, Woody Shaw and Freddie Hubbard. My style is a mix of all of those different elements, both modern and traditional. I think it's important to know the history of the music and to incorporate it into your playing because it gives you more depth."Heflin is a recording artist for Blue Canoe Records. His debut album "Symmetry," which featured renowned pianist James Williams, was released in 2007 to rave reviews. In 2009, he produced and performed on "Introducing the New 5" by the cooperative group, The New 5. This year, Heflin will release his third album, a collaborative CD with Ron Westray, former lead trombonist with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. As a regular featured soloist with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Heflin has performed with the likes of Hank Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Mulgrew Miller, James Moody, and Monty Alexander and recorded with Stefon Harris, Donald Brown, Gregory Tardy and John Clayton. He has also toured Europe playing festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Ezcaray Jazz Festival, and Jazz a Vienne as well as performed in clubs in Paris, France and San Sebastian, Spain. Outside of the KJO, Heflin has performed in a professional capacity with the likes of James Williams, Vincent Herring, Donald Brown, Lou Rawls, Eric Revis, Adonis Rose and Neal Caine. Thomas Heflin is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he studied with jazz education luminary, Jerry Coker. He recieved his masters degree from the internationally renowned jazz department at William Paterson University. Heflin recently completed a doctorate in Music Performance (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Texas, Austin. He currently lives and performs in New York City where he works as the Program Manager of the Precollege Division at the Manhattan School of Music. |
