Allen Vizzutti

A brilliant trumpeter with a wide range and technique that borders on the wondrous, Al Vizzutti has thus far mostly recorded in more poppish settings than one would hope. He began studying classical trumpet at age nine from his father, a self-taught trumpeter. Vizzutti advanced very quickly and, while still in high school, he played with the University of Montana Band. In 1967, he met Doc Severinson and through the years he often appeared with the Tonight Show Orchestra, also writing and arranging some music for Severinson's albums. Vizzutti attended the Eastman School of Music, touring as a freshman with Eastman's faculty brass quintet. As a section trumpeter, he had opportunities to play concerts with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Dave Brubeck, Bill Watrous, Chuck Mangione and others. He also spent time while in college playing as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. A year and one-half (1976-77) as Woody Herman's first trumpeter found Vizzutti touring with the big band. He gained some fame after leaving Herman for his work with Chick Corea, appearing on Corea's Secret Agent, Tap Step and Touch Stone albums. Vizzutti became a top studio musician in the Los Angeles area, and he also led intriguing albums for Headfirst (1979), Four Leaf Clover (1980), Bainbridge (1982) and Summit (including a collaboration in the mid '90s with fellow trumpeters Bobby Shew and Vince Di Martino as Trumpet Summit). Al Vizzutti has remained a legend among trumpeters but has mostly chosen to work in the background, doing clinics and adding high notes anonymously to studio sessions. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi