Three current photos: Alan Mercer
Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles, but worldwide. He is notable for his ability in the upper register of the instrument, as in his screaming trumpet work in the soundtrack for the animated movie ‘The Incredibles.’
Wayne Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1986. Bergeron can be heard on Maynard’s recordings of “Body and Soul,” “Big Bop Nouveau,” “Brass Attitude,” and “The One and Only Maynard Ferguson.” Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, “Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I’ve had on my band.”
As a sideman, Wayne Bergeron’s list of recording credits reads like a who’s who in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, The Dirty Loops, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Michael Bolton, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussy Cat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mars Volta, INXS, Chicago, Rosemary Cloony, Diane Schuur, Barry Manilow, Lee Ann Womack, Lou Rawls, Eric Marienthal, Kenny G., and David Benoit.
Wayne has worked on over 400 TV & motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits include Moana, Frozen, Bridge of Spies, Get On Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Planes, Despicable Me 1 & 2, Cars 2, Charlie St. Cloud, High School Musical 3, Pink Panther 2, Marley & Me, Get Smart, Superman Returns, The Simpson’s Movie, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Mission Impossible 3, Ice Age 2, Spiderman 1 & 2, Team America, Catch Me if You Can, and South Park.
Wayne’s featured trumpet solos can be heard on the motion pictures La La Land, Rough Night, Ted 2, Minions, Jersey Boys, The Incredibles, Rocky Balboa, The Green Hornet, The Interview, Smurfs 2, Despicable Me 2, Duplicity, Leather Heads, Princess & the Frog, The Perfect Game, High Crimes, Rounders, Fled, Hey Arnold (the movie), The Life Aquatic, The Rat Pack, Child Star, Illegal Tender, Aladdin King of Thieves, Foolproof, and Two Days in the Valley.
Numerous TV credits include Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, NBC, ESPN & TNT sports themes, Entertainment Tonight Theme, American Idol (2001-02), Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy’s, Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Jeopardy, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Phineas & Ferb, Emperor’s New School, Mouse Works, Have a Laugh, House of Mouse, King of the Hill, Futurama, Buzz Lightyear, Hercules, Disney Mickey Mouse Shorts, and Hey Arnold.
Wayne Bergeron’s passion for big bands has led to his inclusion in some of Los Angeles’ most well-respected bands. He has recorded and played with Quincy Jones, Gordon Goodwin, Arturo Sandoval, Pat Williams, Sammy Nestico, Jack Sheldon, Chris Walden, Tom Kubis, John La Barbara, Bob Florence, Ray Anthony, Bill Watrous, Bob Curnow, and more recently Vince Mendoza’s re-creation of the Gil Evans/Miles Davis recordings featuring Terance Blanchard and Sean Jones.
After being behind the scene for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, “You Call This a Living?” This debut project earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, as well as rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron’s second CD, “Plays Well With Others,” released on the Concord Jazz label in 2007, was met with the same acclaim. Bergeron is excited about his latest release, Full Circle, released in January of 2016. Wayne feels this is his best work to date.
Wayne Bergeron has been principal trumpet at the Pantages Theatre for over 15 years and is regularly featured with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He has done guest appearances with the L.A. Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He is currently on faculty at California State University Northridge.
Maybe Grammy winning composer and bandleader, Gordon Goodwin said it best, “Wayne is a once in a lifetime lead trumpet player.”
Alan Mercer: Wayne, you became well known with Maynard Ferguson, but what were you doing before that?
Wayne Bergeron: I worked around Los Angeles doing goofy gigs like weddings, the things a young trumpet player must do. I played Disneyland and did a little bit of low level recording. I also worked on cruise ships.
AM: I’ve seen the list of stars you’ve played with and it would be a much shorter list if it were people you haven’t played with. (Laughter) Who was the first really big star you played with?
WB: The first road gig I did years ago where I felt like I was with somebody of note was Helen Reddy. That was 35 years ago. I toured with Buddy Miles and Bobby Womack on the chitlin’ circuit.
AM: What was that like?
WB: It was a great experience.
AM: Did you always stand out as an above average trumpet player?
WB: I was always around musicians where we were all of equal caliber. Coming up the ranks, I knew my strengths and my weaknesses. I worked on my weaknesses as the years went on. I’ve always tried to get better at certain things.
AM: When someone like Maynard Ferguson says what he did about you…that’s pretty lofty! (Laughter)
WB: I was glad I knew Maynard and was friends with him and worked with him.
AM: When did you join the band?
WB: I joined the band in 1986 and we remained friends to his death. I played on his final recording. I played his final notes, actually. He passed away before they could over dub his trumpet part. He wasn’t feeling well so they waited, and he never recorded it. I got to record the last sixteen bars of his life. That’s kind of a wild story.
AM: When you joined, what did you bring to his band that no one before you had?
WB: At that point I was learning how to be an overall better trumpet player. I was learning about playing different styles of music and I was starting to do a little recording. I was working with lots of classical players, so I think I brought a different perspective to the band.
AM: Perhaps you brought some elegance.
WB: I don’t know if elegance is the right word. I tried to bring a refinement to the band that maybe wasn’t there before. I could also play in an old style, so we’d be backstage, and I’d play like Harry James and Maynard loved that.
AM: How do you sum up your years with Maynard Ferguson?
WB: It was an experience and a time in my life that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
AM: Do you consider yourself more a recording artist or a live player?
WB: I only recorded an album on a dare. I had some movie features that I played in the bands and the writers would say, “You should make your own record.”
AM: What year was this?
WB: This was 2002, so I went in and recorded three tunes and then I played them for my buddy, Gary Grant, who ended up producing the record. It took a couple of years because I recorded 3 tunes at a time and finally got the record finished and it had legs. That’s what spawned me touring as a guest artist. I had only been a sideman up to that time. Then I started getting calls from schools to come play with their bands or teach a master class.
AM: It does sound like it all unfolded for you.
WB: Since that first CD created a performance career for me I recorded another CD four years later and I just recently released my third album.
AM: Looks like you had a good plan and it payed off.
WB: That wasn’t the plan. I just did a CD, I was never interested in being a soloist.
AM: Why not?
WB: I always thought there were a lot of people who did it better than I did. I am quite proud of my ‘Full Circle’ CD. I’ve gotten a lot more involved in production now. I have a home recording studio so that helps.
AM: I can imagine that really helps!
WB: I was able to save myself a lot of money and I learned a lot. So now I have a side career where I record from home. People send me tracks from all over the world and ask me if I can put a trumpet solo on this? So, I record it at home and they PayPal me the payment. I can do it in my underwear! (Laughter)
AM: Do you have any idea how many soundtracks you are on?
WB: I’m pushing 400.
AM: 400! Is there anything you haven’t done in your career yet?
WB: I don’t know. I like what I’m doing. I’m 59 and I feel like I’m in my prime as a player. I’ve had a chance to do a lot of cool stuff and I’m very proud of it.
AM: You deserve all the accolades.
WB: I don’t feel all that deserving. It all just happened slowly. Nobody can say I didn’t pay my dues. I started in bar mitzvahs and weddings. I played with crappy bands for little money but slowly as I got better as a player, my quality of work improved.
AM: That’s exactly why you are deserving.
WB: I’m still learning. Every day that I go to work I am learning. When I sit next to a great trumpet player and we are playing it’s always like a lesson. Now I work with the best of the best and we all bring something to the table.
To learn more about Wayne Bergeron visit his web site /https://www.waynebergeron.com/