Wayne Bergeron
Encyclopedia
Wayne Bergeron, American jazz musician and trumpet player, was born in 1958 in Hartford, Connecticut
and grew up Southern California
. His interest in music started on the French Horn before he switched to, his claim to fame, the trumpet
, in 8th grade. While he was in middle school, Wayne was balancing on a box next to car, while trying to balance, he slipped smashing into the car and chipping his tooth. This accident turned into a triumph. It is thought that due to this chip in his tooth he is able to blow more air through the horn and play higher notes easier, however this hasn't been proven and even Wayne himself isn't really sure what all contributes to his natural ability on trumpet. “I found I had natural ability for playing the trumpet in the upper register at an early age.” Even early on, he was able to capably play in a high register on the trumpet, a skill that takes most trumpet players years to develop. Wayne has said that it was difficult for him to learn the trumpet because he naturally played everything up two octaves. He could play a double high C (C7) before he could play low C (C4/middle C).
Wayne took to trumpet quickly, Ron Savitt, his high school band director, molded his natural abilities in to practical working skills. Savitt did this by having Wayne play and sight-read many different types of music, rather than focus on any one particular type of music. Wayne has credited this teaching method to his success in the studio industry today.
In 1986, Wayne landed a lead trumpet position with the Maynard Ferguson
Band. Ferguson speaks highly of him, “Wayne is one of my all time favorite lead players that has performed in my band. His first solo CD is long overdue.”
Wayne eventually released his first solo album in 2004, ‘You Call This a Living?’ and snagged his first Grammy nomination. His second album, ‘Plays Well With Others’ was critically acclaimed as well, and was released in 2007. One of the last recordings of Maynard Ferguson
playing trumpet is on this album, titled "Maynard and Waynard."
Wayne is a national artist for the Yamaha Corporation where he designed his own trumpet, the YTR-8335LA, alongside with master trumpet designer Bob Malone. This is a custom built Yahama trumpet that has a wider bore down the lead pipe.
Today Wayne still resides in Southern California and is a mentor to young musicians. He is staffed at California State University, Northridge
as the lead trumpet instructor. Wayne is also one of the house trumpet players for the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California. His next scheduled work is for the production Wicked that is scheduled to return in November of 2011.
Wayne also plays lead trumpet for Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
. Goodwin states that Wayne is the most important person in the band. Goodwin writes his trumpet parts specifically for Wayne, saying that, "...If Wayne isn't there, it just sounds different."
Examples of Wayne’s work are shown in Rocky Balboa and The Incredibles
. For the movie Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone
wanted to recreate the trumpet sound from the original soundtrack, which was recorded by Maynard Ferguson. Wayne was asked to play the line impromptu in front of the entire orchestra to recreate the sound.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and grew up Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. His interest in music started on the French Horn before he switched to, his claim to fame, the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, in 8th grade. While he was in middle school, Wayne was balancing on a box next to car, while trying to balance, he slipped smashing into the car and chipping his tooth. This accident turned into a triumph. It is thought that due to this chip in his tooth he is able to blow more air through the horn and play higher notes easier, however this hasn't been proven and even Wayne himself isn't really sure what all contributes to his natural ability on trumpet. “I found I had natural ability for playing the trumpet in the upper register at an early age.” Even early on, he was able to capably play in a high register on the trumpet, a skill that takes most trumpet players years to develop. Wayne has said that it was difficult for him to learn the trumpet because he naturally played everything up two octaves. He could play a double high C (C7) before he could play low C (C4/middle C).
Wayne took to trumpet quickly, Ron Savitt, his high school band director, molded his natural abilities in to practical working skills. Savitt did this by having Wayne play and sight-read many different types of music, rather than focus on any one particular type of music. Wayne has credited this teaching method to his success in the studio industry today.
In 1986, Wayne landed a lead trumpet position with the Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
Band. Ferguson speaks highly of him, “Wayne is one of my all time favorite lead players that has performed in my band. His first solo CD is long overdue.”
Wayne eventually released his first solo album in 2004, ‘You Call This a Living?’ and snagged his first Grammy nomination. His second album, ‘Plays Well With Others’ was critically acclaimed as well, and was released in 2007. One of the last recordings of Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
playing trumpet is on this album, titled "Maynard and Waynard."
Wayne is a national artist for the Yamaha Corporation where he designed his own trumpet, the YTR-8335LA, alongside with master trumpet designer Bob Malone. This is a custom built Yahama trumpet that has a wider bore down the lead pipe.
Today Wayne still resides in Southern California and is a mentor to young musicians. He is staffed at California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
as the lead trumpet instructor. Wayne is also one of the house trumpet players for the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California. His next scheduled work is for the production Wicked that is scheduled to return in November of 2011.
Wayne also plays lead trumpet for Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, or simply The Big Phat Band, is an 18-piece jazz ensemble based in California and led by Gordon Goodwin. Goodwin composes most, and arranges all, of the group's performance pieces, as well as playing piano and occasionally tenor saxophone...
. Goodwin states that Wayne is the most important person in the band. Goodwin writes his trumpet parts specifically for Wayne, saying that, "...If Wayne isn't there, it just sounds different."
Examples of Wayne’s work are shown in Rocky Balboa and The Incredibles
The Incredibles
The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated action-comedy superhero film about a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers. It was written and directed by Brad Bird, a former director and executive consultant of The Simpsons, and was produced by Pixar and distributed by...
. For the movie Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
wanted to recreate the trumpet sound from the original soundtrack, which was recorded by Maynard Ferguson. Wayne was asked to play the line impromptu in front of the entire orchestra to recreate the sound.
Artists who Bergeron has worked alongside
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