Mike Snustead
Trumpet
Mike Snustead is a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and music educator best known for touring and recording with the legendary Stan Kenton Orchestra.
He performed as part of the trumpet section in Stan Kenton's big band during the early 1970s, contributing to a number of notable live recordings and studio albums. Today, he remains highly active in the Midwest jazz scene as a freelance musician and local ensemble leader.
Musical Career & Projects
Stan Kenton Orchestra: Snustead played trumpet with the world-renowned jazz orchestra from 1971 to 1974. During this time, he went on extensive tours across the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Big Band Leadership: He leads and performs with three distinct regional groups out of Wisconsin: Cheers Big Band, Time Travelers, and Cool Jazz Cats.
Regional Jazz Collaborations: He performs with several established Midwest groups, including the Gate City Jazz Band (a Dixieland jazz style group based in Winona, Minnesota) and the Madison Mellophonium Jazz Orchestra.
Music Education: He previously spent six years working as a high school band director, including running the music program at Washington High School in Germantown, Wisconsin.
Notable Discography
Snustead's trumpet work is preserved on several physical and digital releases from the Stan Kenton era, cataloged across platforms like Discogs:
Stan Kenton Plays Chicago: A critically praised vinyl release blending Kenton's wall-of-sound big band arrangement style with modern rock/jazz Fusion compositions.
Live at Butler University: A historic 1972 double-album capturing the high-energy live performance of the band at Clowes Hall in Indianapolis.
Clearwater 72: A radio broadcast recording originally captured at the Ft. Harrison Hotel in Florida, showcasing the hard-hitting 1972 trumpet section lineup.