JOHN LAKE

John Lake is an acclaimed trumpet player and composer based in the vibrant musical scene of New York City. With a career marked by versatility and virtuosity, John is recognized as an in-demand lead trumpet player, jazz soloist, and recording artist, appearing on dozens of jazz, big band, and commercial recordings. His musical journey has taken him across the United States and abroad, performing and teaching at venues and collegiate jazz programs in the US, Europe, and South America. 

John’s most recent album, “CO:Re” (Bandstand Presents) documents the relationships formed with players during his years of graduate study in the Rocky Mountains, hence the title, "Colorado Reunion." The album features all original compositions by John, pianist Ben Markley, and saxophonist Joshua Quinlan, and has quickly garnered over a million streams in its first year.

John's acoustic jazz septet released their highly anticipated album "ensemble | in situ" (Bandstand Presents) in early 2024. This album captures the essence of their dynamic live performances recorded in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. John's debut 2020 quintet album, "Seven Angels," (Outside In Music), quickly garnered widespread critical acclaim; All About Jazz hailed it as "compelling," while Jazz Weekly described it as “red meat for hard boppers.”

In addition to his solo work, John has made significant contributions to large ensembles as both a lead trumpet player and featured soloist, including Charlie Rosen’s Grammy Award-Winning 8-Bit Big Band, as well as the jazz orchestras of Steven Feifke, Robert Edwards, Ben Markley, Danny Jonokuchi, Brian Krock, Jihye Lee, Erica Seguine, and Remy Le Boeuf.

John's versatility extends to the worlds of popular music and musical theater, where he has performed and recorded with icons such as  Lauryn Hill & Fugees at the Global Citizen Festival, Harry Connick Jr.'s tribute to Cole Porter at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as lead trumpet in Micheal Feinstein's touring tribute to Tony Bennett, “Because of You” with The Carnegie Hall Big Band. Additional appearances include Louis Cato, Mr. Carmack, Mary J. Blige, Kim Deal (The Pixies), Mac Miller, Josh Groban, and Kristin Chenoweth. John's trumpet can be heard on the theme song for the NBA On ESPN, as well as national advertising campaigns for Nieman Marcus, Heineken, Panera Bread, and many more.

In the world of Broadway musicals, John has performed in the orchestras of Just In Time, Gypsy, The Great Gatsby, Merrily We Roll Along, Cabaret, MJ, and many more, as well as the esteemed Joyce Theater's first Lindy-Hop show, “SW!NG OUT.”

John holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Committed to sharing his knowledge and passion for music, John is actively involved in teaching clinics at high schools and colleges across the country. John continues his scholarly pursuits by writing for print publications such as DownBeat Magazine, JazzEd Online, and JazzTimes Online.

John Lake proudly endorses and performs exclusively on XO Brass instruments and Greg Black Mouthpieces.