Art Farmer playing trumpet, 1958

Photo: DownBeat magazine advertisement photo, November 27, 1958 (public domain)

Art Farmer

Trumpet, Flugelhorn · born 21 August 1928 – died 4 October 1999

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Farmer's contribution to jazz was a model of taste, consistency and finesse. That makes it sound boring, but Art was so inventive a player that, like Zoot Sims or Jack Teagarden, he seemed almost incapable of performing below a certain level. Although he was born in Iowa (with his twin brother Addison, 1928–63, who played bass), he grew up in Phoenix, and eventually changed from sousaphone to cornet in a local marching band. From 1945 he began playing on the West Coast, where he performed with several big bands, occasionally going out on tour, and in 1953 he moved over to New York, where he worked with Teddy Charles, Horace Silver and Gerry Mulligan: on Mulligan's 1958 version of My Funny Valentine, Farmer's beautiful playing makes Chet Baker seem pallid. But he had already begun recording as a leader, with Prestige, from 1953. By 1958 his playing was at its peak: Portrait Of Art (Contemporary) and Modern Art (United Artists) are brimful of detailed, intricately poised trumpet playing, where Farmer's reluctance to bite off his notes makes his playing on each track seem all of a piece. In 1959, he and Benny Golson formed The Jazztet, one of the great New York bands of its day, where the contrast between Farmer's persuasive style and Golson's aggression paid many dividends. The group had run its course by 1962, and during this period Farmer switched more or less exclusively to the flugelhorn, although he still picked up the trumpet occasionally, mostly for section-work. He led a quartet with Jim Hall and then another small group with Jimmy Heath, but he also found work in Europe, and maintained a home in Vienna for many years from 1968. Where others of his generation were puzzled by the way jazz had gone, Farmer calmly carried on working, in small groups and in orchestral settings, and the 80s in particular found him on golden form, leading some superb recordings with Clifford Jordan and staging various reunions with Benny Golson. He also began playing what he called the flumpet, which was a hybrid of trumpet and flugelhorn. If he occupies a middle ground somewhere between Miles Davis and Bobby Hackett, Art surrendered nothing to either man when it came to spinning out a lyrical solo, and his discography as a whole must be among the most satisfying in all of jazz.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

◆Outside Links

As leader

  • Art Farmer Quintet – Art Farmer QuintetArt Farmer Quintet – Art Farmer Quintet
  • Art Farmer Septet – Plays the Arrangements and Compositions of Gryce and JonesArt Farmer Septet – Plays the Arrangements and Compositions of Gryce and Jones
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two Trumpets
  • Art Farmer – When Farmer Met GryceArt Farmer – When Farmer Met Gryce
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three Trumpets

Plays on

  • Teddy Charles – The Teddy Charles TentetTeddy Charles – The Teddy Charles Tentet
  • Gene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam SessionGene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam Session
  • Bennie Green – With Art FarmerBennie Green – With Art Farmer
  • Earl Coleman – Earl Coleman ReturnsEarl Coleman – Earl Coleman Returns
  • Gene Ammons – All-Star SessionsGene Ammons – All-Star Sessions
  • Clifford Brown – MemorialClifford Brown – Memorial
  • Gene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With GeneGene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With Gene
  • Oscar Pettiford Orchestra – In Hi-FiOscar Pettiford Orchestra – In Hi-Fi
  • Quincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About JazzQuincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About Jazz
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley QuintetHank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet
  • Horace Silver – The Stylings of SilverHorace Silver – The Stylings of Silver
  • Gil Mellé – Gil’s GuestsGil Mellé – Gil’s Guests
  • Gene Ammons – FunkyGene Ammons – Funky
  • Prestige All-Stars – EarthyPrestige All-Stars – Earthy
  • Hal McKusick – Jazz WorkshopHal McKusick – Jazz Workshop
  • George Russell – Jazz WorkshopGeorge Russell – Jazz Workshop
  • Various Artists – Trumpets All OutVarious Artists – Trumpets All Out
  • Teddy Charles – Word From BirdTeddy Charles – Word From Bird
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’
  • Horace Silver Quintet – Further ExplorationsHorace Silver Quintet – Further Explorations
  • Jimmy Cleveland – Cleveland StyleJimmy Cleveland – Cleveland Style
  • Prestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of TownPrestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of Town
  • Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three

Mentioned in text

  • Miles Davis – The Musings of MilesMiles Davis – The Musings of Miles
  • Wardell Gray – Memorial, Volume OneWardell Gray – Memorial, Volume One
  • Paul Quinichette – The Kid from DenverPaul Quinichette – The Kid from Denver
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin StreetClifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin Street
  • Red Rodney Quintet – Modern Music from ChicagoRed Rodney Quintet – Modern Music from Chicago
  • Wardell Gray – Memorial, Volume TwoWardell Gray – Memorial, Volume Two
  • Various Artists – ConceptionVarious Artists – Conception
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • Kai and Jay / Bennie Green – With StringsKai and Jay / Bennie Green – With Strings
  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
  • Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6
  • Bennie Green – Walking DownBennie Green – Walking Down
  • Lee Morgan – Indeed!Lee Morgan – Indeed!
  • Horace Silver – 6 Pieces of SilverHorace Silver – 6 Pieces of Silver
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Johnny Griffin – A Blowing SessionJohnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Zoot Sims – Goes to JazzvilleZoot Sims – Goes to Jazzville
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Freddie Redd / Hamp Hawes – Piano East / Piano WestFreddie Redd / Hamp Hawes – Piano East / Piano West
  • Jackie McLean Quintet – Jackie’s PalJackie McLean Quintet – Jackie’s Pal
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Night LongPrestige All-Stars – All Night Long
  • Teddy Charles – EvolutionTeddy Charles – Evolution
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1
  • Paul Quinichette – On the Sunny SidePaul Quinichette – On the Sunny Side
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Prestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz QuartetPrestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz Quartet
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee MorganHank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee Morgan
  • Art Pepper – Return of Art PepperArt Pepper – Return of Art Pepper
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark TrioSonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto MadnessJackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness
  • King Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross SingsKing Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross Sings
  • Herbie Mann – Mann in the MorningHerbie Mann – Mann in the Morning
  • Mose Allison – Young Man MoseMose Allison – Young Man Mose
  • Freddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz TrioFreddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz Trio
  • Hank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ TimeHank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ Time
  • Jackie McLean – New SoilJackie McLean – New Soil
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Lou Donaldson – The Time is RightLou Donaldson – The Time is Right
  • Donald Byrd – FuegoDonald Byrd – Fuego
  • Freddie Redd Quartet – Music from The ConnectionFreddie Redd Quartet – Music from The Connection
  • Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’
  • Jackie McLean – Makin’ the ChangesJackie McLean – Makin’ the Changes
  • Yusef Lateef – The Three Faces of Yusef LateefYusef Lateef – The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef
  • Lee Morgan – Lee-WayLee Morgan – Lee-Way
  • Duke Pearson – Tender Feelin’sDuke Pearson – Tender Feelin’s
  • Horace Parlan – Us ThreeHorace Parlan – Us Three
  • Benny Bailey – Big BrassBenny Bailey – Big Brass
  • Jimmy Heath – The QuotaJimmy Heath – The Quota
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.
  • McCoy Tyner Trio – InceptionMcCoy Tyner Trio – Inception
  • Bill Evans – InterplayBill Evans – Interplay
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath