Art Farmer
Art Farmer was born on Council Bluffs, IA on August 21, 1928. Art Farmer’s music was consistently inventive that has been more greatly appreciated as he continues to develop. His lyricism gives his bop-oriented style its own personality. His formative years was largely overlooked. Farmer studied piano, violin and tuba before settling on trumpet. He helped popularized the Flugelhorn among brass players. He worked in Los Angeles from 1945, performing regularly at Central Avenue and spending time in the bands of Johnny Otis, Jay Mcshann, Roy Porter, Benny Carter and Gerald Wilson among others. Some of the groups also included his twin brother bassist Addison Farmer (1928-63). After playing with Wardell Gray (1951-52) and touring Europe with Lionel Hampton’s Big Band (1953). Art Farmer move to New York and worked with Gigi Gryce, Horace Silver’s Quintet (1956-58) and Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1958-59).
Art Farmer, who made many recordings in the latter half of the 1950’s, including with Quincy Jones and George Russell for Prestige, he co-led the Jazztet with Benny Golson (1959-62) and then had a group wil Jim Hall (1962-64). Farmer moved to Vienna in 1968 where he joined the Austrian Radio Orchestra and worked with Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band and had made tour with his own units. Since the 1980’s Farmer has visited the United States more often and has remained greatly in demand up to the present day.
Art Farmer has recorded many sessions as a leader through the years including for Prestige. United Artists, Contemporary, Mercury, Argo, Columbia, Atlantic, CTI, Enja, Sweet Basil and Concord.