Bio

Seneca Black is a multi-Grammy Award-winning and nominated trumpeter, educator, and arranger whose career spans elite jazz ensembles, major classical orchestras, and international concert stages. Inspired to pursue jazz at age 14 after being introduced to the music of Duke Ellington by Wynton Marsalis, he has since built a reputation as one of the most versatile and accomplished brass players of his generation.

Mr. Black began his formal training studying trumpet at the prestigious New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida. He subsequently relocated to New York City, earning a full scholarship to further his artistry at the Manhattan School of Music under the mentorship of trumpeter Lew Soloff. In 1997, while still in his teens, his exceptional talent led to his appointment as a member of the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), a position he held during a pivotal era for the ensemble.

Throughout his distinguished career, the Grammy-winning artist has performed and recorded with an illustrious roster of jazz legends and big bands. His extensive ensemble credits include Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Loren Schoenberg Big Band, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, the Awakening Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, the Papo Vazquez Group, and Tito Rodriguez Jr.'s Band.

His versatility as a collaborator has also made him a sought-after artist across popular music, hip-hop, and commercial genres, sharing the stage and studio with prominent figures such as Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Holliday, Frank Foster, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bobby Short, Harry Connick Jr., Ron Carter, Max Weinberg, Gloria Gaynor, Darlene Love, Bernie Williams, Funk Shui NYC, and John Scofield, among many others. His high-profile broadcast credits include performances on major television programs such as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Good Morning America, and the Today Show.

Equally adept in the classical and orchestral realms, Mr. Black performs regularly with the Rochester-based contemporary classical ensemble, Ensemble Signal. His orchestral experience includes performing under the batons of legendary conductors Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Masur, Daniel Barenboim, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and John Lewis.

An internationally recognized artist, Seneca Black has toured over 25 countries and performed in nearly every state in the U.S. He remains a frequent fixture at major jazz festivals across North America and Europe, while continuing to dedicate his time to music education and arrangement.

Beyond his musical achievements, Mr. Black is a multi-talented creative who is also a trained actor and writer. He currently brings his diverse artistic background together on the Substack platform, where he writes and shares his deep expertise, rich professional experiences, and insider insights into the musician's life.