Art Farmer

Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928 – October 4, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination specially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, double bassist Addison Farmer, started playing professionally while still at high school. Art gained greater attention after the release of a recording of his composition "Farmer's Market" in 1952. He subsequently moved from Los Angeles to New York, becoming known principally as a bebop player, performing and recording with musicians such as Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, and Gigi Gryce. As his reputation grew, Farmer expanded from bebop into more experimental forms through working with composers such as George Russell and Teddy Charles. He went on to join Gerry Mulligan's quartet and to co-found the Jazztet, with Benny Golson. Continuing to develop his own sound, Farmer switched from trumpet to the warmer flugelhorn in the early 1960s, helping to develop its reputation as a soloist's instrument in jazz. He settled in Europe in 1968, continuing to tour internationally until his death. He recorded more than 50 albums under his own name, a dozen with the Jazztet, and dozens more with other leaders. His playing is known for its individuality – most noticeably, its lyricism, warmth of tone and sensitivity.

Read more artist reviews on