John Pittman

Featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s mini series “One to Watch”, Toronto-based trumpeter/composer/educator John Pittman is in high demand as both a soloist and lead player on the jazz, commercial and salsa scenes because of his big sound, high energy and melodicism.. His playing has been described as having a “wide dynamic and emotional range” consisting of ideas that are “very unique” even when performing within more traditional contexts.

Pittman is the winner of several arts grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and Manitoba Arts Council as well as the 2006 -2007 Rayburn Wright Scholar and the 2007 Schirmer Prize winner for an outstanding performance major at the prestigious Eastman School of Music.

In Toronto, Pittman is featured on a regular basis as a member of The Heavyweights Brass Band, The Toronto Jazz Orchestra, The Lula All-Stars, Conjunto Lacalu, The Yani Borrell Orchestra, and The Chris Hunt Tentet.

Pittman has had the pleasure of performing/recording with such artists as Adonis Puentes, Jully Black, Byron Stripling, Wycliffe Gordon, Slide Hampton, Steve Kirby, Alvin Atkinson, Marian McPartland, Bill Dobbins, Peter Erskine, Rich Thompson, and Classic Albums Live. In addition, Pittman has had the opportunity to open for such varied artists as Herbie Hancock and Kool and The Gang.

An active educator and clinician, Pittman has taught at the Eastman School of Music, University of Manitoba and Silver Heights Collegiate. He has also served as a clinician/adjudicator throughout Canada and the United States. He currently teaches Instrumental Music at The Sterling Hall School in Toronto, Ontario.