Cecil Bridgewater (born October 10, 1942) is an American jazz trumpeter and composer.

Biography

Bridgewater was born in Urbana, Illinois and studied at the University of Illinois. He and brother Ron formed the Bridgewater Brothers Band in 1969, and in the 1970s he was married to Dee Dee Bridgewater. In 1970, he played with Horace Silver, and following this with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis from 1970 to 1976. Also in the 1970s, he played with Max Roach, starting a decades-long association. Elsewhere he has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Randy Weston, Charles McPherson, Joe Henderson, Roy Brooks, Abdullah Ibrahim and Sam Rivers. Bridgewater's first disc as a leader appeared in 1993. Bridgewater has also composed works premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and Meet the Composer. Cecil Bridgewater has become a great supporter of The Jazz Foundation of America in their mission to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina. Cecil performed at the 2008 Benefit Concert, "A Great Night in Harlem" at the Apollo Theater. He currently teaches as adjunct faculty at Manhattan School of Music, New School, William Paterson University, and The Juilliard School.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Muhal Richard Abrams With Anthony Braxton With Jon Faddis and Billy Harper With Frank Foster With O'Donel Levy With Mel Lewis With Charles McPherson With Jimmy Owens With Houston Person With Max Roach With Horace Silver With Lonnie Liston Smith With Dakota Staton With John Stubblefield With Buddy Terry With The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra With Mickey Tucker With McCoy Tyner With Dee Dee Bridgewater