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Craig Tweddell
Louisville Jazz Trumpeter
About Me
Craig started playing the trumpet at age 12. Through out high school he excelled in music,
earning positions in several honor bands and winning many music awards. After high school
he attended Morehead State University where two major events happened: 1) He met his hero
and mentor, Mr. Greg Wing, who he credits with instilling within him a work ethic and passion
for music that continues to inspire him to this day. 2) Craig discovered and fell in love with
jazz music and improvising. While at Morehead Craig received the Musicians Union
Performance Scholarship, The Jamey Aebersold Jazz Scholarship and received Outstanding
Soloist Awards at the University of Louisville Jazz Festival. He was also selected to be a
member of the annual KMEA Intercollegiate Jazz Band three times.
After graduating from Morehead State Craig moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he quickly
became a regular member of the cities big band scene as well as doing other freelance work.
He has since become one of the busiest trumpeters in the area and can be heard performing
regularly with his own groups and as a sideman. Craig also the host of Louisville’s longest
running jazz jam session at the historic Rudyard Kipling.
In addition to playing Craig is also very passionate about music education. For the past 6
years he has been the trumpet instructor at the Don Wilson Music store, he is the co-director
of the Don Wilson Music Jazz Academy, he has directed numerous high school jazz bands in
the Louisville area and most recently he became the newest member on the trumpet faculty of
the prestigious Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops.
Craig has played with numerous recognized groups/artists including The Temptations, The
Jack Wilkins Blue & Green Project, Tierra Cali , Jamey Aebersold, Dick Oats, Lee Konitz, Dave
Samuels, Bennett Higgins, Anderson Pessoa, Alim Nastaev, Bobby Falk and Mixolegion to
name a few. In 2008 and 2009 he was selected as a semi-finalist in the jazz division of the
National Trumpet Competition.
In 2007 Craig received a full scholarship to attend the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies Program
at the University of Louisville. There he studied trumpet with Dr. Ansyn Banks and arranging
with the great John Labarbera. Since the completion of his masters degree Craig has worked
as a freelance trumpet player and teacher in the Louisville area.
In 2013 Craig released his debut album Away WIth Words on the Bugles Media label.