Pat Harbison, Guest Artist

Pat Harbison is Professor of Jazz Studies at Indiana University, where he joined the faculty in 1997. At IU he teaches jazz improvisation, jazz history and directs the jazz combo program. He has been on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops since 1976. He travels internationally as a jazz trumpet artist and educator and has performed at jazz concerts and festivals and taught around the world. From 1984-97 he taught Trumpet and Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 

Born and raised in New Albany, Indiana, Pat fell in love with jazz under the influence of his mentor, Jamey Aebersold. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville, where he studied trumpet with Leon Rapier. After freelancing in New York City for a time (and lessons with Carmine Caruso), he returned to his native Indiana to study jazz with David Baker and trumpet with William Adam while earning a M.M. at IU.

Pat currently performs with The Jazz Trumpet Project (with fellow trumpet artists Alex Yates and Jim Ketch), the Pat Harbison Quartet, Rhythmico (with guitarist Corey Christiansen, bassist Jeremy Allen, drummer Steve Houghton and percussionist Michael Spiro), the Jamey Aebersold Quintet, and the Steve Allee Big Band. He has released four compact discs as leader or co-leader.

Along with colleague Alexa Yates, Harbison created 21st Century Trumpet, a forward thinking project that encompasses concert performances, clinics, workshops, and online resources for trumpet students, comeback players and professionals. The mission is to encourage new approaches to effective learning and expand concepts of musicianship and creativity.

His books, including Trumpetology, Technical Studies for the Modern Trumpet, and Twenty Authentic Bebop Solos, are used by trumpeters around the world and are published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz. Pat Harbison plays Vincent Bach trumpets.