Today’s episode of The One takes us deep into the rhythm of resilience, vision, and heart. I had the great privilege of sitting down with Orbert Davis — jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, and proud alumnus of Momence Schools. But if you’re expecting a conversation filled only with name drops, accolades, and performance credentials, let me prepare you for something far more expansive.
Orbert’s journey from a shy first grader to an internationally respected artist and educator is more than a story of musical mastery — it’s a testament to the quiet power of human connection. A mouthpiece before he had a trumpet. A car ride every Saturday for four years with a mentor who asked for nothing but legacy in return. A curriculum built from the bridge between music and language, helping kids not only learn to read and count but to believe in who they are and what they can become.

And through it all — whether performing in Havana, lifting students in Chicago, or composing alongside musicians from around the world — Orbert has never strayed from his roots. This conversation is a tribute to the community that shaped him, the people who believed in him, and the enduring belief that music and love are tools not just for expression but for transformation.

You're going to love this one.