BIOGRAPHY

Jay Webb is currently working as a trumpet player, endorser and music educator in the Philadelphia area. Although a classically trained musician, Jay’s versatile trumpet playing style is a culmination of various performance experiences dating back to early childhood.

Jay was born on May 21st, 1975 in Hamburg, New Jersey. Following in the footsteps of his father, a trumpet player and president of the local community band for over 30 years, Jay was introduced to the trumpet at the age of 3. His natural ability began by imitating his father, and playing by ear, without reading music. Jay began to play with school bands in the 4th grade and continued to memorize music and develop his ear, as he didn’t acquire sight reading until college.

Throughout high school and college, Jay consistently received honors and accolades, placing 1st in various New Jersey youth performing groups, such as County Band, Region Band, All-State Band & Orchestra, All State Wind Ensemble and the prestigious Governors School of The Arts at The College of New Jersey, where Jay later attended as a Trumpet performance major for 2 years.

It was at The College of New Jersey where Jay met and studied with trumpet professor George Rabbai who had been performing periodically with The Woody Herman Orchestra. It was through Rabbai that Jay later connected and began studying with lead trumpet player Roger Ingram. Jay quickly adopted the ‘wedge breath’ method of playing trumpet, knowledge gained from Ingram, and soon after was accepted and transferred to The University of The Arts in Philadelphia to pursue a Jazz Trumpet performance degree.

Jay was then offered and accepted a playing opportunity at the Famous Door on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The band performed 7 days a week for over a year. Jay moved back to Philadelphia with his expecting wife, a native to New Orleans, after the Famous Door, ‘closed it’s doors’ in 2002.

Currently, Jay is in demand as one of the finest studio and live performance trumpet players in Philadelphia. Jay recently performed with John Legend and The Roots on ABC’s Good Morning America Summer Concert Series and in 2008 performed for Patti LaBelle at the R&B Tribute Awards after-party , attended by Bonnie Raitt, Paul Schaefer and Smokey Robinson. Along with performing for the areas top local bands and recording on various CD’s, Jay also boasts a large studio of aspiring trumpet students. Most recently Jay’s trumpet playing was used to design and test the Soulo Mute, and has since began an endorsement program with the company, demonstrating and advocating trumpet mutes and accessories. Jay is also sought after as a clinician advocating the wedge breath and improvisation technique – “Keep It Inside”.

Resume

You can download Jay Webb’s resume here.