Byron Stripling reveals why the future of music belongs to artists who can connect, adapt, and lead - onstage, online, and in life.If you care about trumpet, jazz, or simply making people feel something in a concert hall, this conversation is packed with the kind of hard-won wisdom you only get from a performer who has lived it. Stripling shares how he stays sharp through changing routines, why “routine” can become the enemy of growth, and what decades on the road with the Count Basie Orchestra, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and the Boston Pops taught him about sound, showmanship, and service.You’ll discover:
The practice philosophy he uses to keep his playing evolving, from flow studies and etudes to rebuilding his warmup so it never goes stale
The Vinny Di Martino lessons that changed how he thinks about time, accountability, leadership, and actually delivering on stage
Why great musicians must meet audiences where they are, whether that means a concert hall, a living room, Facebook Live, or a livestreamed season
The unforgettable stories behind playing with legends like Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong tributes, and John Williams
Stripling also opens up about the cultural weight of music, the power of forgiveness, and why artists have a responsibility to lift people up when the world feels fractured. It is a wide-ranging conversation that moves from trumpet technique to race, tradition, audience connection, and the future of orchestras in a post-COVID world.Byron Stripling is the artistic director and conductor of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the newly appointed principal pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony. He is known for his electrifying trumpet playing, deep jazz lineage, and acclaimed tributes to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.Essential listening if you want inspiration, practical musicianship, and a masterclass in how great artists turn talent into impact.
Timestamps
00:00 - Opening banter and the Fred Powell resemblance joke
03:06 - Columbus, Ohio, home life, and cleaning out the basement
05:44 - Driving to Connecticut to bring his daughter home during quarantine
08:23 - Why he leads the Columbus Jazz Orchestra
09:20 - Making jazz and classical music more welcoming to audiences
12:48 - COVID 19, Zoom, and the move toward virtual concerts
17:26 - Current practice routine and keeping warmups fresh
18:41 - Lessons from Vinny Di Martino on etudes and credibility
22:06 - Leadership means going first and setting the example
24:37 - Staying motivated while gigs are on pause
26:15 - Reading habits and books on travel and history
27:00 - Touring the world with major jazz bands
29:38 - Time with Count Basie, Mike Williams, and the lead trumpet chair
32:11 - Touring with Ella Fitzgerald and the lesson of showing warmth
33:08 - Meeting Miles Davis and sitting on stage with him
36:57 - Dizzy Gillespie stories and the importance of showmanship
39:15 - Auditioning for Satchmo, America's Musical Legend
41:37 - Working with the Boston Pops, John Williams, and Manny Album arrangements
44:38 - How he portrayed Louis Armstrong vocally and theatrically
50:03 - Louis Armstrong archives, the house, and the emotional power of his legacy
52:14 - Race, suffering, and turning pain into art
55:19 - Speaking honestly about empathy and Black experience
57:05 - Personal stories about police stops and perspective
61:15 - Maurice André, Herbert L. Clarke, and early trumpet heroes
63:08 - Doc Severinsen and being present for young players
64:21 - Clark Terry as a model for race relations through music
65:49 - Conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony and the concert hall as a spiritual space
68:04 - Closing reflections on service, music, and the next conversation
