Bio

Roger Ingram is one of the most sought after and prolific lead trumpet players of our time, with more than thirty years of professional experience to his credit.  Well known for his dynamic sound and upper register, as well as his hard driving swing, Roger's musical legacy is embodied by his respect and regard for artistic integrity.  Ingram's definitive voice and performance mastery undoubtedly place him among the lineage of great lead trumpeters in the history of jazz music.

Roger began playing the trumpet in 1965 at the age of eight.  He was fortunate to grow up in Los Angeles, CA, and become associated with some of the finest Hollywood trumpet players of the time. Many of these introductions came through his association with the band director at Eagle Rock High School. In addition to being an inspiring high school band director, John Rinaldo was also a gifted and working trumpet player on the LA scene. Through Mr. Rinaldo, Roger was able to meet and study with Bobby Shew, Laroon Holt, Bud Brisbois, Mannie Klein, Uan Rasey and James Stamp.

John Rinaldo spearheaded one of the most fertile and successful high school jazz programs in the country. From that jazz program came such great musicians as drummer Carlos Vega, bassists Scott Colley and David Stone, guitarist Larry Koonse, and saxophonists Doug Rinaldo, Brian Mitchell, Gary Hypes, and Sam Wiley. Also from that program emerged trombonists Arturo Velasco and Luis Bonilla, pianist Guy Steiner, and trumpeters Bobby Muzingo and Buddy Gordon.

At the age of sixteen, Roger toured with the great Louie Bellson Big Band, sharing his section duties with Blue Mitchell, Bobby Shew, Cat Anderson and Frank Szabo.  After his stint with Bellson, Ingram joined the Quincy Jones Big Band for a summer.  Immediately following that tour, Roger spent a year touring with the Connie Stevens show, playing lead trumpet with a major act for the first time.

At age eighteen, Roger played first trumpet with the international pop star Tom Jones, remaining with him for six years.  After his tenure with Jones, Roger moved to Las Vegas, where for two years he gained invaluable experience playing production shows and star acts on the world renowned Las Vegas Strip.

In 1985, Roger joined the famous Woody Herman Orchestra as lead trumpet.  Roger remained with Woody until Herman's death in 1987, recording three Grammy nominated albums with the legendary band leader: 50th Anniversary Tour, Woody's Gold Star, and The Concord Years.  Roger's tenure with Herman's Thundering Herd was a vital developmental period, as he matured into one of the world's preeminent lead trumpet players.  Roger is recognized as the last lead trumpeter to play with the true Woody Herman Orchestra.

Roger returned to his hometown of Los Angeles after Woody's death, co-leading his own big band with the late Steve Elliott.  The Ingram-Elliott big band featured talented artists as Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous and Gary Foster.  In 1988, Roger worked with the famous WDR Jazz Orchestra in Cologne, Germany.  While in Germany, Ingram recorded works by Bob Brookmeyer and Jim McNeeley, featuring Mel Lewis on drums.  Later that same year, Roger joined the orchestra of one of his trumpet inspirations, Maynard Ferguson.  Roger recorded three albums with the high note legend.  After touring with Maynard, Roger collaborated with Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, recording the Grammy Award winning album, Danzon.

In 1990, Roger joined the newly formed big band of singer, pianist, composer, and arranger, Harry Connick, Jr.  Mr.Ingram recorded three albums with Connick, Jr., working with Harry until the orchestra disbanded in 1993.  The following year, Roger toured with vocal legend Frank Sinatra.  Later that year, Roger moved to New York City, joining Wynton Marsalis and his Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.  Roger recorded three albums with Marsalis, including the Pulitzer-Prize winning, Blood on the Fields. 

Roger left Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1997 to tour and record with the legendary Ray Charles for two years.  After a stint with singer-songwriter Paul Anka, Roger rejoined Harry Connick, Jr.'s big band in 1999 and recorded the Grammy nominated album, Come by Me.  In April 2000, the album was certified GOLD by the RIAA.  You can also hear Roger on these recent Harry Connick, Jr. albums: the Grammy winning Songs I Heard, Thou Shalt Not, Harry for the Holidays, Only You, Chanson du Vieux Carre, and Oh My NOLA.  Today, Roger continues to work on all of Harry Connick, Jr.'s big band projects.

While in New York Roger has performed in a freelance capacity in over 20 Broadway productions in the theatre district of Manhattan. In addition to this, Roger has played trumpet for the Alvin Ailey dance theatre and he was the principal trumpet player in the broadway shows Thou Shalt Not, and The Pajama Game.

From the beginning of Roger's career through present day, he has performed at jazz festivals around the world: the Monterey Jazz Festival, The Concord Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, Newport, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and The Montreal Jazz Festival. He has made appearances at multiple LA Jazz Institute festivals, the Midwest Band Clinic, the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the Charles Colin Brass Conference, as well as the International Trumpet Guild Conference.

Roger maintains homes in New York and Chicago. He is currently Artist in Residence at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He books clinics and lessons through his Chicago office.  His busy schedule includes touring and recording with Harry Connick, Jr., Paul Anka, and Woody Herman, as well as teaching, leading clinics, and performing. He also can be heard performing with the big bands of Jimmy Heath, Scott Whitfield, Chico O'Farrill, and Frank Capp.

For a listing of Roger's recorded works, be sure to check out the discography page!