Philadelphia native and trumpeter Duane Eubanks has performed
everywhere from the Hollywood Bowl to Birdland to the Kennedy Center,
in addition to touring throughout Europe and Japan. He is a member of
Dave Hollands two time GRAMMY Award winning big band and the late
Mulgrew Miller's band, Wingspan.
Duane was born into a family of musically gifted talent. His mother,
pianist Vera Eubanks was Kenny Barrons first piano teacher and a
professional church pianist; his brothers, renowned trombonist, Robin
Eubanks and guitarist, Kevin Eubanks, former bandleader of the The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno; as well as his uncle, legendary pianist Ray
Bryant all contributed to his early music education.
Duane started playing trumpet for the first time at age eleven, but didnt
consider music as a career until college. While studying for a Business
Administration degree at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,
Duane joined the universitys jazz band, which afforded him opportunities
to play with jazz luminaries such as Stanley Turrentine, Shirley Scott,
Charles Fambrough, and Clark Terry.
After graduating from college, Duane studied jazz at Temple University.
He performed admirably in master classes with Dr. Billy Taylor and
Wynton Marsalis. In addition to his formal jazz education, Duane took
two years of private lessons with famed trumpeter Johnny Coles, who
became one of his primary mentors. The years of study and continual
encouragement from Robin and Kevin motivated Duane to take on his
ultimate challenge. In 1996, he moved to New York with his good friend
and musical partner, Orrin Evans.
Duane caught the attention of French producer Aleardo G. Buzzi while
sitting in with Robin at Bradleys in New York. Aleardo recorded Robins
1998 TCB Records release 4:JJ/Slide, Curtis & Al on which Duane played
trumpet. Duanes inspired playing left a lasting impression on Aleardo,
which resulted in a proposal to record his first album as leader for TCB
Records. The outcome was his critically acclaimed debut, My Shining
Hour released in 1999, followed by Second Take in 2001.
Contact: Aleta Eubanks | T: 845-461-4289 | E: aleta.eubanks@gmail.com
Duane has worked with saxophonists Bootsie Barnes, Jeff King, J.D. Allen,
Bill McHenry, and Antonio Hart; drummers Louis Hayes, Jeff Williams,
and Elvin Jones; trumpeters Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, and Nicholas
Payton; bassists Eric Revis and Avery Sharpe; pianists Mulgrew Miller,
John Hicks, Ronnie Matthews, and Orrin Evans, and trombonists Robin
Eubanks and Curtis Fuller, among others.
Working in various genres of music is something Duane takes pride in.
This has given him the opportunity to record and/or tour with The
Temptations, Alicia Keys, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Wu Tang Clan, Freedom
Williams, and Kirk Franklin. Duane is now working on a project that will
incorporate all of these influences. The recording will feature him on
trumpet, Abraham Burton on tenor saxophone, Marc Cary on piano,
Dezron Douglas on bass, Eric McPherson on drums, and special guest,
Steve Nelson on vibraphones with an anticipated release in early 2015.
Duane is a recipient of the 2013 Philadelphia Education Fund EDDY
Award. He was a participant as musician on Dave Holland Big Bands
two GRAMMY Award winning recordings, What Goes Around in 2002
and Overtime in 2005.
Currently, Duane is teaching private lessons, performing with drummer
Jeff Williams, pianist Doug Carn, bassist Avery Sharpe, and soulful
songstress Rhonda Ross, daughter of the legendary Diana Ross.
With all of the musicians he has performed with over the years, young and
old, as Duane puts it, Its hard not to be inspired musically.