Biography

Gidon Nunes Vaz (b. 1991, Amsterdam) is a Dutch jazz trumpet player based in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Currently, he holds the 5th (solo) trumpet chair in the Danish Radio Big Band, one of Europe’s leading jazz orchestras. A position he has since 2023.

He is affectionately nicknamed in Japan as "The Trumpet Poet" (トランペットの詩人) and is known for his distinctive tone and lyrical expressiveness. Gidon has established himself as a prominent figure in contemporary jazz. Besides his appearance as a leader, he has performed as a sideman alongside many renowned artists, including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Joyce Moreno, Jesse van Ruller, Madeline Bell, Ivan Lins, Gary Smulyan, Donny McCaslin, Benjamin Herman, John Clayton, and numerous professional big bands and ensembles. He has performed on festivals and stages worldwide and he has released multiple albums under his own name.

Gidon’s musical foundation was shaped early on in the jazz workshops of Peter Guidi. He later graduated cum laude with a Master’s degree from the Conservatory of Amsterdam (2015), studying with Ruud Breuls. During his studies, he also trained with Terell Stafford and John Swana at Temple University (Philadelphia, USA) in 2013.

"There’s a lot of quality musicianship on this recording; it’s very clear. So very rare to hear a group of young people pick up on the vibes (of these standards) and be true to the music. God bless you…...Keep doing what you’re doing.” - Don Sebesky 

"A standard-bearer for a new generation of jazz trumpeters in Holland and a band leader of exquisite taste, Gidon is a wonderful example of the great times we live in." - Benjamin Herman

“With a respect for the past, Gidon plays trumpet with mastery and confidence. Like all accomplished jazz musicians, he's absorbed the language, and is now conversing in real time with his fellow musicians. He has something to say, and I think you'll agree. Gidon Nunes Vaz has a bright future ahead.” – John Swana