Al Strong

Al Strong is an award-winning trumpet player, composer, recording artist and educator. A cultural innovator, he is the co-founder of the Art of Cool Project, which spawned the original Art of Cool Music Festival in Durham, N.C. and the stArt of Cool youth summer
camp.


Strong is lauded for his distinctively unique sound. Whether melting hearts at a whisper
volume or being gracefully dynamic when the music calls for more intensity, his natural
ability to strike listeners at their core is unmatched. His 2016 debut album, LoveStrong
Vol. 1, a 10-song mix of original music and jazz classics, garnered national and
international attention for its “blues-inflicted, Southern church-happy” sound. A native of Washington, D.C., Strong is a graduate of the renowned Duke Ellington
School for the Performing Arts and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from
North Carolina Central University and a Master’s in Jazz Performance / Pedagogy from
Northern Illinois University.


Strong’s discipline and dedication to his craft has forged a prominent career that includes performances with music legends such as Aretha Franklin, The Count Basie Orchestra, Dwele, Eric Roberson, and The Hamiltones. He’s also served as music director for hip-hop pioneer Rakim and has headlined shows at the Blue Note Jazz
Festival, Winter Jazz Fest, and Blues Alley.