One of the more lyrical of the post-bop musicians, Art Farmer helped to popularize the flugelhorn in jazz.
Later in his career, he switched to a hybrid instrument known as the flumpet, an instrument that combined the power of the trumpet with the warmth of the flugelhorn..
He and his twin brother, bassist Addison Farmer, were raised in Phoenix, Arizona.
Farmer took up the piano, violin, and tuba before settling on the trumpet at 14.
He later moved to Los Angeles and worked with Horace Henderson and Floyd Ray, eventually traveling east to New York with the Johnny Otis Revue in 1947..
In his last decade
Farmer received several awards recognizing his importance as a major contributor to the jazz communities of both the U.S.A. and Europe. Among these were the prestigious Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art
First Class in 1998 and the NEA Jazz Masters designation in 1999. This is the Official Art Farmer Website.
Bassist Keter Betts
Who played with Art Farmer briefly during the 1970s
Described him best:
"He was a gentleman's trumpet player
Not a rebel trumpet player." At 25 years of age
Farmer was given the opportunity to travel Europe with Lionel Hampton's jazz band.
The 1970s saw Art Farmer increasingly uninhibited by the outdated need for sub-four minute songs. Much as it was on The Summer Knows
He used the extra time to build atmosphere and gravity within his songs
Rather than adhering to bland structure or ostentatious showmanship.
In his last decade, Farmer received several awards recognizing his importance as a major contributor to the jazz communities of both the U.S.A. and Europe. Among these were the prestigious Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class in 1998 and the NEA Jazz Masters designation in 1999. This is the Official Art Farmer Website.
He played in the ORF Big Band from 1971 until 1977. Twin brother of Addison Farmer. Late in his career, he switched to the custom designed flumpet exclusively, which was built for him to draw qualities of both trumpet and flugelhorn. Explore the discography of Art Farmer.
Arthur Stewart Farmer (August 21, 1928 – October 4, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination especially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, double bassist Addison Farmer, started playing professionally while in high school.
