Greg Duncan is a composer and freelance jazz trumpet player currently based in Philadelphia. His ensemble plays contemporary straight-ahead jazz that grooves with a mixture of blues, swing, and even flamenco. He has toured all over the world with various groups and performed at top jazz clubs in Philadelphia, Chicago and Europe.

Duncan first came to Chicago in 2003 by way of Washington State and Texas. He graduated from the well-respected University of North Texas in 2001 and started working as a professional musician full-time. In 2002 he toured the United States and Japan with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as composer, arranger, and soloist. His debut recording with his own quintet featuring original compositions came in 2007 (“Unveiled” OA2 Records). The recording received airplay around the country and praise from jazz critics.

In 2006 and 2009, Duncan traveled and performed in Spain, where he picked up some flamenco sounds and incorporated them into his group. After living a year in Barcelona, Duncan returned to Chicago and in 2012 won a grant from the Illinois Arts Council to record a Flamenco Jazz album with his Latin Ensemble. “Chicago, Barcelona Connections” (New Origins Records) became a hit on the radio waves throughout the country and the world and continues to be his most popular recording.

Later that year, Duncan won the SedaJazz composition contest in Valencia, Spain. His composition “Viento” earned top latin jazz composition out of submissions from Spain and various other countries. His Latin Ensemble has performed at the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, opened for Benny Golson at the Riverfront Jazz Festival, collaborated with the Peoria Symphony, and played at various clubs and performing arts venues throughout the Chicago-land area.

In 2014 Duncan returned to his mainstream roots and created the Individuation Quintet. The group was formed to create awareness about the ideas of Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung and also to perform original and arranged contemporary music. They released their first recording in 2017 (“Unification" New Origins Records) and after playing many of the top clubs in Chicago, look forward to new opportunities in the future.

Duncan moved to Philadelphia in 2020 to become better acquainted with the East Coast scene and create music with his new Organ Trio and the latest version of his Quartet. He recently recorded his fourth album entitled “Sound Duality”, featuring both groups and a mix of original and contemporary songs.

As a freelance trumpet player, Duncan has performed with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Roger Ingram, Billy Harper, Jorge Rossy, Richie Cole, and many others. He has worked and resided as a professional musician for over 20 years in places like Chicago, Barcelona, Texas, Virginia, and Philadelphia.

Photographer: Matthew Bender