John Daversa Big Band - American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom

2019 release.

John Daversa "gets sounds to come out of his little red trumpet like you never heard. The [John Daversa Progressive Big] Band itself ditto," according to The Los Angeles Times. Daversa's compositions and improvisations reflect a musical philosophy that aims to stretch boundaries, while maintaining a reverence for the jazz tradition.

Daversa is a versatile and respected performer, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, and educator. He took an immediate interest in music at an early age, first through piano and voice, and later with trumpet and EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument). He attended UCLA, studying composition and trumpet with virtuosi Mario Guarneri and Malcolm McNab. Although Daversa's musical interests were firmly placed in jazz, he studied classical composition to deepen his understanding of the art. During that time, Daversa's jazz skills won him the Herb Alpert Award, David Joel Miller Award, National Trumpet Competition, ITG Jazz Soloist Competition, and he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.