Alex Nguyen has forged a diverse and vibrant path as a musical artist. As a trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and curator, he has collaborated with esteemed veterans and emerging talents in his current base of New York City, while also gracing stages across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Motivated by a desire to connect with people and foster healing through music, Alex infuses his trumpet with a warm tone and poetic phrasing, drawing inspiration from trumpet icons like Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, and Roy Hargrove. Whether delicately interpreting ballads or playing standards in his spirited, signature style, his performances resonate profoundly with listeners.
Alex’s early recognition includes accolades from prestigious competitions like the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition and the National Trumpet Competition, alongside participation in notable programs such as Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. Upon relocating to NYC, Alex first became known for his recurring appearances at Iridium with the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra, a nine-piece ensemble he co-founded with fellow UNF alumni. Since then, he has performed in other notable NYC venues like Birdland, Kitano, Mezzrow, and Lincoln Center, and shared stages with renowned artists such as Harold Mabern, Vincent Herring, Jimmy Cobb, Curtis Fuller, among others.
In addition to his prowess as a performer, Alex's creative scope extends to composition and arrangement, with his works recorded by the likes of NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron and performed by diverse ensembles, universities and sacred institutions. His writing traverses genres from big band to choral music, where he integrates sacred music traditions with jazz influences. An advocate for community-building and music accessibility, Alex has curated concerts in various settings, including public spaces like city parks, esteemed venues such as the Met Museum, and innovative locations like a church crypt. Drawing from his heritage as the child of Vietnamese refugees, he has produced performances that transcend cultural boundaries, including a program for Carnegie Hall's "Migrations: The Making of America."
Alex's musical journey began in Savannah, GA, where he attended the Savannah Arts Academy and studied with acclaimed trombonist Teddy Adams. He furthered his education at the University of North Florida’s Jazz Studies program, where he studied with legendary alto saxophonist Bunky Green, and earned a Masters in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase under the tutelage of trumpeters Jon Faddis and Jim Rotondi.
“Alex Nguyen’s solo is achingly beautiful.
He conjures up the essence of Miles Davis’s message with space, depth, and sensitivity.”
“Soloists who caught my ear included… Alex Nguyen whose muted trumpet
was featured all the way on a deliciously slow-cooked version of “Mean to Me.”
“Nguyen exhibits amazing control of the trumpet, harnessing the horn’s power with an astounding expressiveness that seems as if each breath carries with it a specific emotional message.”
“The First Year,” a gentle bossa nova by Alex Nguyen, a student whom Barron recently met at a Washington, D.C., performance, was another high point. The piece was simply written but meaty.”