Inspired by former jazz trumpet greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson and others as early as in the seventh grade, Winston Byrd has already firmly established himself as a young rising force on the horizon in jazz to be reckoned with. This is simply attributed to after graduating from high school in 1991, instead of going on to New York University to study Clinical Psychology, Winston’s personal belief in his talent made him boldly decide to devote his life to jazz. Attracted to and fascinated by the art of playing high notes on the trumpet, Winston diligently practiced until he became capable of easily playing and articulating extreme ranges of high notes into the stratosphere on trumpet.

Winston left home and went on the road to perform, record and tour with a wide-variety of highly acclaimed, Grammy winning, recording hit musical groups and artists, such as the R&B, Rock and Pop stars, the Stylistics, the Chi-Lites, Patti Austin, The Dells, The Grateful Dead, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), Usher and such hailed jazz artists such as Pieces Of A Dream, Claudio Roditi, Larry Coryell, James Moody, Paquito D’ Rivera, Clark Terry (who was a surprise guest with Winston on his All-Star 31st birthday concert!) Lucky Peterson, Bernard Purdie, Diane Schurr, Shirley Horn, Chucho Valdes, David “Fathead” Newman, Abbey Lincoln, T.S. Monk and even comedian Don Rickles.

His first CD entitled, “Soul Searchin,” which is available in stores, as well as on the Internet at: www.winstonbyrdmusic.com;. Trumpeter, Winston Byrd also has a number of his own compositions that have been recorded on T.S. Monk’s (the great jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk’s son) latest release entitled “Higher Ground” where Winston Byrd (former member) can also be heard. Currently Winston has continued performing, recording and touring with even more top musical artists and groups on the West Coast, such as recently with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, the Frank Capp Juggernaut, the Buddy Collette Big Band, Steve March Torme, Eric Benet, The Don Ellis Reunion Big Band, Ernie Andrews, as well as also performing live on the L.A. based award shows such as the Grammys & the B.E.T. awards!!! Winston Byrd is truly an arising trumpet star whose moment of greatness is definitely at hand.