American musician and educator
John Daversa |
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| Birth name | John Austin Daversa |
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| Born | October 2, 1972 (1972-10-02) (age 51)
Canoga Park, California, U.S. |
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| Genres | Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Jazz Orchestral, Free Jazz, Latin Jazz, Contemporary Jazz |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician, Composer, Arranger, Bandleader, Conductor, Producer, Educator |
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| Instrument(s) | Trumpet, Flugelhorn Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), Piano, Bass, Vocals |
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| Years active | 1990's - Present |
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| Labels | BFM Jazz, Daversafications Publications, Tiger Turn |
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| Website | johndaversa.com |
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Musical artist
John Daversa is an American jazz trumpeter, electronic valve instrument (EVI) player, composer, arranger, conductor, bandleader, producer and educator.[1]
Early life
Daversa is the son of Jay Daversa, trumpeter for Stan Kenton and Los Angeles studio musician, and Mary Ann Daversa, music educator and pianist. The grandson of Italian immigrants,[2] he was born in Los Angeles and moved to Ada, Oklahoma at age 7. He also lived in Las Vegas and Sacramento before returning to Los Angeles for high school at Hamilton Academy of Music.
Career
Daversa has degrees from UCLA, California Institute of the Arts, and a doctorate from USC. He is Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at University of Miami, Frost School of Music and directs the Frost Concert Jazz Band.[1] Before this appointment, he taught the Jazz Studies Program at California State University, Northridge.[3] He regularly performs with the John Daversa Progressive Big Band, John Daversa Small Band, and is a guest conductor and soloist all over the world.[4]
Daversa has worked with Moonchild, Fiona Apple, Burt Bacharach, Joe Cocker, Andraé Crouch, Gin, Herbie Hancock, Holiday on Ice, Bob Mintzer Big Band,[5] Renee Olstead, Regina Spektor, Andy Williams, and The Yellowjackets. His playing has been featured on film and television, including The Five-Year Engagement, Key and Peele, The King of Queens, and Promised Land.[6][7]
His album American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom (BFM Jazz, 2018) won three Grammy Awards at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards: Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, "Don't Fence Me In" won in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category, and "Stars and Stripes Forever" won in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category.[8]
