Warren Bandel

Warren Bandel is a highly regarded professional trumpet player and jazz musician based in Rochester, Minnesota. He has been a staple of the local music scene for decades, known for his work as a performer, bandleader, and music educator.

Musical Groups and Performances

Warren Bandel lends his trumpet talents to several prominent ensembles across Southeast Minnesota:

• Uptown Jazz: Bandel is the leader of Uptown Jazz. This group is a popular local "little big band" featuring six horns, a full rhythm section, and two vocalists. They bring a classic big band sound to the region, playing music inspired by legends like Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and Ella Fitzgerald.

• The John Paulson Band: He has collaborated frequently with saxophonist and composer John Paulson. Bandel played trumpet on the Paulson Jazz Refuge Project CD, performing blues-based contemporary jazz pieces.

• Classic Brass Quintet: Formed in 1992, this professional quintet plays an eclectic mix of jazz standards, Broadway show tunes, and traditional classical favorites at various regional events and church services.

• Incognito: He has also performed as a trumpet player with the jazz-rooted act Incognito.

Education and Community

Outside of performing live on stage, Bandel helps shape the next generation of musicians in Minnesota. He teaches private trumpet lessons to local youth, with some of his talented students going on to win prestigious young artist awards and sit in with professional jazz bands themselves.

If you are looking to see him play live, you can often find him and his band Uptown Jazz performing at regional community events, local farmers' markets, and jazz jams around the Rochester area.