Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Hervey.
Anthony, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Indiana. I moved down to South Florida when I was about five. Music has always been a constant backdrop to everyday life for my family and I. All my siblings played alto sax. I’m the only one who ended up playing trumpet. My life took a turning point when I reached the 6th grade. This is when my mother urged me to play trumpet. I didn’t want to play but I reluctantly agreed to do so. As the saying goes, “Mama knows best.” This was the best thing I could have ever done. After hearing Freddie Hubbard play for 20 seconds, I absolutely fell in love with Jazz music. That short moment in time set me on a path to become the best trumpeter I could possibly be. I began practicing for 5-7 hours daily with the utmost fervor. I knew I would be successful because I was going to practice as hard as I could until it became a reality.
In high school, I was a member of the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Band. With this band, I performed at the prestigious Essentially Ellington High school Jazz Band Competition & Festival held in New York City under the auspice of Jazz at Lincoln Center. I received the outstanding soloist recognition award four years in a row. In my last year at the competition, I was awarded the Ella Fitzgerald award representing the outstanding soloist award for the entire competition. While in high school, I also participated in honor bands, the Grammy Jazz Band, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, performed at the Monterey Jazz festival, and was a Young Arts Finalist. I then went on to attend the Juilliard School of Music, where I just recently graduated with my Bachelor’s and Master’s. In recent years I have been able to live out things I had once dreamed about. I have performed at Jazz festivals and concert halls around the world with artists like Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Igor Butman, and Chick Corea. My journey is just beginning and I can’t wait see all the places I will go to.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In the words of Langston Hughes from “Mother to Son,” “life ain’t been no crystal stair.” Life, for me has definitely not been a smooth ride. I actually wrote a song titled “Crystal Stair” based off of this poem because it applies so much to my life. My Mom and all the strong women in my world are the heroines of my story. They have pushed me to be better and have sacrificed so much for me to do the things I have done. I’ve been able to meet all sorts of incredible people around the world through Jazz music. I want my life and music to be a story of unwavering joy and inspiration to others despite the vicissitudes of life. As the last line of Invictus says, “It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” That pretty much sums up my outlook on life. The obstacles I have faced have only made me stronger. Because of them, I have more empathy, I don’t take blessings for granted, and I’m very humble and determined.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a Jazz trumpeter, composer, teacher, and occasional actor based in New York City. I have performed in clubs and concerts, on recordings, and on tour. I am a member of a co-led Jazz quartet, Citizens of the Blues, and have also been a part of projects as a bandleader and sideman. Recently, I recorded on Christian McBride’s Big Band Album “For Jimmy, Wes, and Oliver” which was released on Mack Avenue Records. This was a tribute album to three of the most soulful jazz artists; Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery, and Oliver Nelson. On another note, I acted and played trumpet in a horror anthology series, Monsterland, which airs on Hulu starting this October. I love pushing myself artistically and am almost constantly writing music and looking for ways to create and collaborate with other artists. I view music as a force that can uplift and inspire. In the same way music has changed my life and brought me joy, I strive to spread that joy and change the lives of others.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly, I am very proud of the way my life has turned out up to this point. I have worked so hard that I don’t know if it’s possible for me to have done much better. Also, there’s this thing called the butterfly effect. If you change one minor detail of the past, it might change everything. So much of my life has been based on little coincidences that end up affecting the bigger picture. If I changed one minor detail, I might not be playing trumpet right now so I wouldn’t change a thing. I just try to live every day the best I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: anthonyherveymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthony.hervey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.hervey.9
Image Credit:
Gabrielle Hervey
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