John Michael Bradford

John Michael Bradford is a trumpeter, singer, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator from New Orleans, Louisiana, now based in Los Angeles, California. His artistry is deeply shaped by the spirit and traditions of his hometown, and his work moves fluidly across jazz, blues, funk, hip-hop, soul, and New Orleans traditional music.

After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina at age eight, Bradford discovered a lasting love for music while spending time with trombonist Sam Williams of Big Sam’s Funky Nation. He went on to study trumpet performance at Berklee College of Music, where he trained under Sean Jones, and later earned a master’s degree in Black American Music from Tulane University in 2024.

Bradford’s debut album, Something Old, Something New, was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Record by OffBeat Magazine in 2017. In 2024, he was also recognized with a nomination for Best Trumpet Player.

Over the course of his career, he has performed and recorded with an impressive range of artists, including Jon Batiste, Herbie Hancock, Leslie Odom Jr., Harry Connick Jr., Donald Harrison, Dumpstaphunk, Bruno Mars, and PJ Morton.

Bradford has appeared at renowned venues and festivals worldwide, including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam and the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. His performances have also taken him to stages such as The Pinky Ring in Las Vegas and other premier international venues, highlighting both his versatility and his strong ties to the rich musical tradition of New Orleans.

''The 19043 trumpet delivers a rich, bright tone that sits perfectly in section playing and studio work. It handles projection with ease, letting you push when needed without losing control. Articulation feels crisp, the range is comfortable, and overall it’s a dependable, versatile horn.

''That said, I’m especially drawn to the open feel of the 190L65GVU in raw brass. Its warmer tone gives me more room to shape my sound and express myself musically. I tend to reach for the raw brass horn for solo work and shows with my band, while the 43 remains my go-to for section playing and louder funk or pop settings.''