Jim Dvorak

Jim Dvorak is an accomplished American trumpeter and composer, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1948. He began his musical journey with private trumpet lessons as a teenager before heading to the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music between 1966 and 1970. After graduation, Dvorak moved to London, quickly establishing himself in the city’s vibrant jazz scene. He played with notable groups like Brotherhood of Breath, Joy, Sun Sum, and Dhyana, and contributed to the creative energy of ensembles led by Louis Moholo, Keith Tippett, and Phil Miller’s In Cahoots—collaborating on five albums with the latter. Dvorak also founded the Club Extremor, a venue dedicated to improvisational music, and has earned recognition for his work as an arranger and educator, teaching at institutions like the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music.

Throughout his career, Dvorak has been involved in an array of eclectic projects, from composing for ballet and stage to arranging for artists like Reebop Kwaku Baah and Annabel Lamb. He’s known for his versatility, blending jazz with other genres, and for his collaborations that push musical boundaries—such as his jazz and poetry hybrid with Eric Mingus on the album “This Isn’t Sex.” Dvorak’s influence extends from the stage to the classroom, where he’s inspired generations of musicians both in the UK and internationally.