Paul Tafoya

TRUMPET

Paul Tafoya is a gifted trumpeter, composer, and bandleader with over a decade of professional experience in the music industry. His passion for music began in his pre-teen years and eventually led him to the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was honored as the "Marine Musician of the Year" while serving with the MARFORPAC band. During his military service, he performed extensively abroad, honing his skills on global stages. After his time in the military, Paul pursued formal music education, studying under some of the industry’s most acclaimed musicians, including Lew Soloff, Jeremy Pelt, Ralph Alessi, Ingrid Jensen, and Jon-Erik Kellso, among others. Throughout his career, Paul has recorded and performed with a wide range of Grammy and Emmy winners and nominees, such as Christian McBride, Katreese Barnes, George Nehme, Ulysses Owens Jr., Ronnie Garrett, and Patricia Birch. He has led bands across Hawaii, New York City, Florida, and the Southeast—and was a featured bandleader at the 2016 Bern Jazz Festival. Paul has also shared the stage with notable artists including Jon Batiste, Rich Perry, Alon Yavnai, Lakecia Benjamin, Eyal Vilner, Russell Hall, Wycliffe Gordon, James Francies, Matt Wilson, and Terrell Stafford.