Available for clinics and concerts with quartet, quintet or as guest soloist with big band and symphony orchestra

Cecil has written for everything from small groups to Jazz Philharmonic Orchestras including symphony orchestra and big band combined.

Cecil has recorded with many people over the years, but his most recent recordings are:

I Love Your Smile – Mesa Bluemoon
Mean What You Say - Brownstone Records
Generations Suite - Denon
Lightening and Thunder – Denon

Cecil has contributed arrangements to two of Dee Dee Bridgewater’s CD’s – "Dear Ella" dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald, which won a Grammy and "This Is New", the music of Kurt Weill.

Cecil moved to New York in 1970 where he established himself as an international artist. His recognition increased exponentially after joining the Horace Silver Quintet and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. As a soloist, writer, arranger and musical consultant, he has collaborated with such musical luminaries as Max Roach, among others. Cecil’s compositions and arrangements have been recorded and performed by Lena Horne, Vanessa Rubin, the Uptown String Quartet, the Count Basie Orchestra and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among others. He has received commissions from the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Atlanta Arts Festival, University of Illinois, Jazzmobile and Meet the Composers that produced the "Cannonball Adderley Suite" that had its premiere in February 1994 in Long Beach, California and again in March 1996 in Washington, D.C. Cecil Bridgewater co-produced with Vanessa Rubin her RCA/Novus CD, which is attribute to Carmen McRae – "I’m Glad There is You" and Antonio Hart’s RCA/Novus CD – "It’s All Good." Cecil has also been involved in producing CD’s for the Uptown String Quartet – "Max Roach Presents the Uptown String Quartet", "Just Wait A Minute", Michael Carvin, Cecil Bridgewater.

As a professor of music, Cecil teaches at: Manhattan School of Music
The New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program
JazzMobile
William Paterson University

Cecil Bridgewater

Clark Terry
 and Cecil Bridgewater

Bring the music of Cecil Bridgewater to you and enjoy the educational and musical experience.

In 2003-04, he served as musical director for a series of concerts at the University of Illinois called "Jazz Threads" which included concerts, lectures and demonstrations at various venues thru out the Champaign/Urbana, Illinois area. He brought in guests such as; Clark Terry, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Davis, Mulgrew Miller, Carl Allen and Ron Bridgewater to perform in settings from quintet to symphonic orchestra and jazz band. For each of these occasions, Cecil provided compositions and arrangements for the various artists.

Cecil Bridgewater is a trumpeter who realizes the lineage of the trumpet and has an appreciation for its place in contemporary music. Cecil explores his artistic depth on his releases, I Love Your Smile and Mean What You Say.

His illustrious career began with the musical training he received from his parents in Illinois where he grew up.

Billy Taylor and Cecil Bridgewater
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