I've never felt obligated or pushed to pursue one genre of trumpet by anyone in my life. My parents and teachers have always taught me to find what I enjoy, and to pursue that. As a result, I've been able to explore and experience so many genres and styles, which has ingrained a love and passion for music in me that goes beyond any one instrument or genre. When it comes to trumpet, I treat it as a medium for myself to explore my passion for music, through imitation. Imitating not only great trumpet players, but singers, percussionists, and any instrument that catches my ear, across a multitude of genres, styles, and time periods.
I have come to particularly love jazz, not just as a genre, but as a rich culture of diversity, growth, imitation, and communication. Jazz, while having strong, proud, deep origins within the Black American community, is non-exclusive, and allows people from all walks of life to interact and learn from one another and/or off the bandstand. Improvising is one of the most intimate and invigorating experiences I've ever had; that feeling you get when you play a phrase and you can feel the entire band respond around you, it's addicting. My trumpet chops still have a long way to go, but I'm hooked on music, and wouldn't have it any other way.