Biography
Irvin Mayfield Jr. was born in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has established himself as a leading figure in contemporary jazz and a custodian of the New Orleans jazz tradition. He received his first trumpet in the fourth grade and learned "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" as his first piece, later performing with the Algiers Brass Band starting in the late 1980s. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) in 1995, Mayfield turned down a scholarship to Juilliard School of Music to study at the University of New Orleans under the mentorship of jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, though he dropped out during his first semester. This decision proved formative, as it kept him rooted in New Orleans' musical culture while allowing him to develop his distinctive style.
Mayfield's career encompasses multiple significant achievements as a performer, composer, bandleader, and educator. In 1998, he co-founded Los Hombres Calientes, an Afro-Cuban jazz band that won Billboard's Latin Music Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year for their debut CD. More significantly, in 2002, Mayfield founded the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO), a sixteen-piece nonprofit ensemble dedicated to performing and promoting New Orleans jazz, which won a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble in 2010 for its album "Book One." He also established the Institute of Jazz Culture at Dillard University in 2002 and has served as an artist-in-residence since 1995. Mayfield won a Grammy Award at age 32 and was nominated by both Presidents Bush and Obama to serve as the youngest member of the National Council of the Arts.
Beyond performance, Mayfield has positioned himself as a cultural ambassador for New Orleans, teaching "New Orleans as Discourse" at the University of New Orleans and owning two jazz clubs. He has composed significant works including "Strange Fruit," a 90-minute opus set in 1920s Louisiana, and has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Jazz Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. His artistic vision integrates music with broader cultural and political contexts, reflecting his commitment to jazz as a vehicle for education and social understanding.
Fun Facts
- Mayfield formed his first band, the Algiers Brass Band, at age fourteen and signed his first recording contract at age twenty.
- He shared an apartment in New York City with Wynton Marsalis in the late 1990s, during a formative period of his career.
- Mayfield composed a 90-minute operatic work titled "Strange Fruit" set in 1920s Louisiana, inspired by a visit to the photographic exhibit 'Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America' in Atlanta in 2002.
- In 2017, Mayfield was indicted for money laundering related to funds from the New Orleans Library following a two-year investigation.
Associated Acts
- Los Hombres Calientes (1998–present)
- Irvin Mayfield Sextet - original
- Irvin Mayfield Quintet
- The Quintet - trumpet
- New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Ellis Marsalis - Jazz pianist and mentor at University of New Orleans Jazz Studies program (Collaborated on album 'Love Songs, Ballads and Standards' (2008)) [1995 onwards]
Key Collaborators
- Jason Marsalis - Drummer and co-founder of Los Hombres Calientes (Los Hombres Calientes (debut CD won Billboard Latin Music Award)) [1998 onwards]
- Bill Summers - Percussionist and co-founder of Los Hombres Calientes (Los Hombres Calientes) [1998 onwards]
- Wynton Marsalis - Shared apartment in New York City in late 1990s; collaborated on Hurricane Katrina relief benefit (Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert) [Late 1990s, 2005]
- Victor Atkins - Pianist in New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (New Orleans Jazz Orchestra performances and recordings) [2015 onwards]
- Ed 'Sweetbread' Petersen - Saxophonist in New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (New Orleans Jazz Orchestra performances and recordings) [2015 onwards]
Artists Influenced
- Students at Dillard University and University of New Orleans - Through teaching at Institute of Jazz Culture and as professor; Saturday Music School for ages 8-17 (Educational programs, jazz curriculum development) [2002 onwards]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #dixieland, #jazz, #post-bop
References
Heard on WWOZ
Irvin Mayfield has been played 6 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.