Gregory Newman is a DFW-based commercial trumpet player deeply committed to defying traditional boundaries.
Although at his core he considers himself a jazz musician, he prefers not to be confined to a specific role or genre and strives to succeed in many different areas of trumpet playing. Whether playing jazz solos in a small group, lead trumpet in a big band, first trumpet in a brass quintet, or pop and rock music in a top 40’s cover band, Gregory is a truly multidimensional musician who is always willing to perform wherever a trumpet may be needed.
Still a fairly young artist, Gregory has already begun pursuing many different professional and artistic opportunities. At age 19 he was offered a position with the US Air Force Band of the West, and won second prize in the Jazz Division of the 2018 National Trumpet Competition. That summer, he accepted a contract aboard the cruise ship Celebrity Equinox to accompany production shows and guest entertainers, and also performed small group jazz with the ship’s other contracted musicians. The following summer, he was one of 23 young artists selected nationwide to attend the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy, where he studied with Brian Lynch, Shelly Berg, Christian McBride, Chuck Bergeron, and others. Most recently, he was selected as a finalist for the US Army Blues, the premier jazz ensemble of the Army, in November 2019.
Gregory is currently pursuing a Master’s in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas, and is a student of Philip Dizack. In 2019 he received his B.M. in Jazz Studies from UNT; as an undergraduate he was the youngest member and solo jazz trumpet of the Grammy-nominated One O'Clock Lab Band under the direction of Alan Baylock, recording on both Lab 2018 and Lab 2019. As a member of the band, he performed with guest artists such as Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Chris Potter, Jimmy Heath, Melissa Aldana, the Kenny Werner Trio, Carl Fischer, and others.
Locally, Gregory frequently plays with cover and party bands such as John Adams’ Special Edition Band, and also leads his own jazz group for private events and parties. He currently directs UNT’s Eight O’Clock Lab Band and maintains a private teaching studio. A passionate educator dedicated to demystifying jazz improvisation for young musicians, he has given masterclasses and clinics both in the DFW area and across the country.