Trumpeter Herb Pomeroy is best known as an educator, thanks to almost four
decades at the Berklee College of Music. After retiring two years ago, Herb
returned to performing full-time and he has quickly reminded Jazz listeners
why he established a reputation as one of the best trumpeters out of Boston
in the late '40s and early '50s.
Born in the seaport town of Gloucester, MA on April 15, 1930, Herb started
on the trumpet after seeing a movie with Louis Armstrong. Although he took
a year of pre-dentistry at Harvard, he decided to pursue music full time
and eventually played with Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton
and Stan Kenton before returning to Boston and forming his own big band in
1955. Herb's big band worked regularly in the Northeast and New England and
even played at the original Birdland in 1957.
During his distinguished teaching career, Herb's students included Berklee's best, including Toshiko
Akiyoshi, Gary Burton, Gary McFarland, Tiger Okoshi, and John Abercrombie.
In addition, he taught at the Lenox School of Music.
