Trent Austin: Principal
_______________________________
Celebrated trumpet artist, educator/clinician and entrepreneur Trent Austin is a trumpeting Renaissance Man. His brilliant performances and recordings in both the jazz and classical music worlds, as well as packed-house master classes have garnered him rave reviews, awards and international acclaim.
A prodigy, in high school Austin performed at the opening of Euro-Disney and also was a featured performer at the 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival. He was selected first trumpet of the Maine All-State Music Festival and was awarded a full music scholarship to the University of New Hampshire to study classical trumpet. Austin’s other early career awards include being named to the prestigious Berklee Grammy® High School Jazz Band in 1993 and designated lead trumpet of the 1995 Disney All-American Show Band. He was also a featured soloist at the 1996 Harmony Ridge Brass Festival and at the 1997 Lake Placid Institute of the Arts Seminar.
As an in-demand pro, Trent has performed with a lengthy list of music’s Who’s Who, including Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Jack Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Peter Erskine, Arturo Sandoval, Hal Galper, Dick Oatts, Marvin Stamm, Red Holloway, Jesse Davis, Dick Johnson, Kenny Werner, and Bob Wilber. For eleven years, Austin was a featured trumpet soloist with the famed Artie Shaw Orchestra. He is currently a first-call performer in the Boston Metro and Southern New England areas as well as throughout the Midwest.
Austin has recorded four albums: Trumpet 101 (2001), Two-Toned (2006), Meditations for Solo Trumpet (2009), and Trumpet 102 (2012). Each of these efforts demonstrates Austin’s impeccable command of his instrument and marvelous artistic approach.
Trent has studied jazz improvisation privately with greats Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Werner, Chuck Findley and engaged in extensive studies with Hal Crook and Charlie Banacos. His primary classical instructors include studies with Robert Stibler of the University of New Hampshire, Benjamin Wright of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and with Edward Carroll, formerly musical director of the New York Trumpet Ensemble.
Fiercely dedicated to the cause and development of music and jazz education, Trent was a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine for nine years and regularly provides clinics and Master Classes nationwide at various trumpet and brass conferences, including at the International Trumpet Guild Conference and other trumpet/brass conferences. Austin also maintains an active teaching studio in Kansas City, MO and worldwide online via Skype, providing trumpet and jazz improvisation lessons.
For booking information and rates please send Trent a note here.
Kyle Lambert: ACB KC Shop Manager
Kyle Lambert is a freelance trumpet player that grew up playing in the greater Boston area. He's been working at ACB since 2017. Awarded a full scholarship at the Berklee School of music he studied Music Education and Jazz Composition at the Berklee College of Music. Kyle's teachers included Greg Hopkins, Phil Wilson, Tiger Okoshi, George Garzone, and Darren Barrett, to name a few. Kyle's main focus in music is small group jazz. He started working in sales with the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, before becoming a full time employee at ACB! Currently, he resides in Kansas City, MO where he is slowly getting into the music scene, and digging every second of it! Schedule a call with me or call me at 816.410.0826 x2!
Josh McDonald: Sales, Logistics, and Mouthpiece consultant
Josh has worked at ACB since 2015. Previously he served as the Coordinator of the Jazz Ensembles at Boston University, and has taught as an adjunct professor at several colleges in Massachusetts and Virginia. After 9 wonderful years, Josh is leaving ACB on September 28th for a full-time college teaching gig. The Mouthpiece Hotline (781.816.9664) will be transferred to Eric in September, but you can reach Josh at the shop at 816.410.0826 x6. You can still email him at ACB. From Josh: "I have loved working with everyone of you. Thank you all for the joy you brought to my work and my trumpet playing. It's been an honor to serve you!"
Eric Chapman: Low Brass Specialist and Store manager
Eric Chapman is a trombonist, teacher, composer, and arranger in Kansas City. Born in St. Louis, he came to Kansas City to attend UMKC, eat BBQ, and revel in the great jazz history of KC. He has performed and recorded locally with Clint Ashlock’s New Jazz Order, Bobby Watson and The UMKC Conservatory Jazz Orchestra, Son Venezuela, and his own ensembles, including J.E. Chapman Presents The Music Circus. He also recorded and released an album of original works for large ensemble titled 364 Days which received awards from The Global Music Awards and was honored to participate in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. His original score can be heard in the social documentary by Quintin LaReau The Neighborhood. Chapman currently teaches private lessons and volunteers with The A-Flat Music Studio in Kansas City. He is very excited to have joined the Austin Custom Brass team and looks forward to working with you.
Dr. Lexie Signor earned her doctorate at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music in Trumpet performance. While she was there, she completed two minor areas in Jazz Studies and Music Theory. Her dissertation "The Practical Guide to Big Band Terminology and Symbols" is an excellent ready reference for all educators who share a passion for playing and teaching big band music at any level.
Dr. Signor has played for several well known artists across the country including Adele, Keith Urban, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Rodney Marsalis and the Philly Big Brass as well as both major and regional Orchestras like the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, and was a finalist in auditions for the principal positions in the Chicago and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras. She is well-versed in a wide variety of music from unaccompanied contemporary solo works to big band lead playing, orchestral section and solo playing, wind band features, funk, soul, and contemporary small group jazz.
These days, Dr. Signor keeps a full schedule of private lessons helping trumpeters across the country hone their craft for performances and auditions at all levels. Her students have gone on to win several different professional jobs and competitions as well as being placed in some of the most prestigious music programs in the country including the Oberlin Conservatory, The Westminster Choir College, and UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music.
Aidan Hamer: Low Brass Sales and logistics
Aidan Hamer is a trombone player in the Kansas City area, and is currently studying both classical and jazz performance at the University of Kansas. He has performed with the NaFme National Symphony Orchestra, and has been active with the Fountain City Brass Academy since 2016. As a jazz player, Aidan has been recognized as a featured soloist at several competitions and performs in big bands around the Kansas City and Lawrence areas.
Caden Smith: Trumpet sales and logistics
Hello! My name is Caden smith. I am a Kansas City based trumpeter who graduated from the UMKC conservatory with a bachelor’s in Jazz studies spring of 2023. I have been playing throughout the Midwest with the Kansas City Latin jazz orchestra since 2019.