Jeff Claassen
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Trumpeter, composer, and educator Dr. Jeff Claassen has performed, recorded, and toured globally, playing such venues as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Montreux Jazz Festival, Fenway Park, The Village Vanguard, The Panama Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Boston’s Wang Theater, and San Francisco’s Warfield Theater. Appearing on dozens of albums recording jazz, classical, rock, world music, film scores, and video game music, Jeff has performed with a diverse group of notable names including Miguel Zenón, Dave Liebman, Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Brookmeyer, Esperanza Spalding, Antonio Sánchez, Billy Childs, Sean Jones, John Fedchock, and Gunther Schuller.
Jeff received his doctorate and master’s degrees from New England Conservatory of Music in composition and jazz studies, where he studied with jazz legend Bob Brookmeyer along with Lee Hyla and John McNeil. Jeff has toured with Bob Brookmeyer and his New Art Orchestra, Mehmet Sanlikol’s What's Next ensemble, and is the lead trumpet player in the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, the Fernando Huergo Big Band, and Eguie Castrillo's Mar Del Norte salsa band. He can also be found playing in pit orchestras and live shows at theaters throughout Boston and New England. Jeff Claassen has given clinics and master classes globally, from Australia and Malaysia, to Colombia and Panama.
- Member of the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, Fernando Huergo Big Band, Eguie Castrillo's "Mar del Norte," and Paquito D'Rivera Big Band
- Performances with Bob Brookmeyer, Paquito D'Rivera, George Russell, Gunther Schuller, and Artie Shaw
- Toured with Mehmet Sanlikol's "What's Next" with Antonio Sanchez, Miguel Zenon, Anat Cohen, and Dave Liebman; Bob Brookmeyer's "New Art Orchestra;" and Paquito D'Rivera's Big Band
- B.M., California State University
- M.M., New England Conservatory
- D.M.A., New England Conservatory