The professor of music had an article published in the professional trumpet journal.
Professor of Music Thomas Erdmann had a 6,000-word article published in the January 2020 issue of The International Trumpet Guild Journal.
The article, “Scotty Barnhart: Respect the Instrument,” is about the current leader of the Count Basie Orchestra. Born in Atlanta in 1964, trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, author, and two-time Grammy Award winner Scotty Barnhart earned a degree in music Eeducation from Florida A&M University. His prodigious talent was quickly noticed by pianist Marcus Roberts who hired the trumpeter for his first touring quintet. Among the other artists Barnhart has worked or toured with include Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Rebecca Ferguson, Aretha Franklin, Jon Hendricks, Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Max Roach, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, and Take 6, among others. So highly thought of, a few of the artists who welcomed the opportunity to perform on Barnhart’s CD as a solo leader include Wynton Marsalis and Clark Terry.
In 1993 Barnhart was asked to join and serve as featured trumpet soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra. Taking over as director in 2013, Barnhart has not only continued the tradition of leading the hottest band in the world, but has also expanded the orchestra’s repertoire.
When not on the road leading the Basie band or working with other artists, Barnhart is a clinician working in China, Europe, Japan, South Africa, South America, and the United States. He is also a lecturer, having given two keynote lecture demonstrations at ITG Conferences, and teacher who has been a professor of jazz trumpet at Florida State University since 2003 where two of his former students, Etienne Charles and Alphonso Horne, won 1st Place in the NTC Jazz Trumpet Competition.
His book, “The World of Jazz Trumpet, A Comprehensive History & Practical Philosophy” (Hal Leonard Publishing), is about as good an introduction to what it means to be a jazz trumpeter as can ever be written. Barnhart is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Florida Jazz and Blues Festival. Profiled in Scott Yanow’s Trumpet Kings: The Players Who Shaped the Sound of Jazz Trumpet, one can see why The New York Times wrote, “Barnhart bears watching.” He is the trumpeter noted critic Ken Dryden called, “a well-kept secret,” who hopefully won’t be anymore.