Earl Wesley Gardner, Jr. (born April 19, 1950 in New York City) is an American jazz trumpeter^[1] known for his stint in the house band on Saturday Night Live, a chair he held from 1985 until 2022.^[2]

In 1976, he joined The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. He has later joined Carla Bleys Big Band.

Discography

With Carla Bley

• Looking for America (Watt, 2003)
• Appearing Nightly (Watt, 2008)

With George Benson

• Big Boss Band (Warner Bros., 1990)

With Angela Bofill

• I Wanna Love Somebody (Jive, 1983)

With David Bowie

• Never Let Me Down (EMI, 1987)

With David Byrne

• Grown Backwards (Nonesuch, 2004)

With Betty Carter

• The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 2019)

With Casiopea

• Sun Sun (Alfa, 1986)
• Platinum (Polydor, 1987)

With Hank Crawford

• Tight (Milestone, 1996)

With Robin Eubanks

• Karma (JMT, 1991)

With Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra

• Dream Keeper (Blue Note, 1990)

With Tom Harrell

• Time's Mirror (RCA Victor, 1999)

With Joe Henderson

• Big Band (Verve, 1997)

With Dave Holland

• What Goes Around (ECM, 2002)

With James Ingram

• Never Felt So Good (Qwest, 1986)

With Branford Marsalis

• I Heard You Twice the First Time' (Sony, 1992)

With John Scofield

• Up All Night (Verve, 2003)
• That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles (Verve, 2005)

With Zoot Sims and the Benny Carter Orchestra

• Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington (1979)

With Bob Stewart

• Goin' Home (JMT, 1989)

With The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

• Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Rhoda Scott (Barclay, 1976)
• It Only Happens Every Time (EMI, 1977)
• Live in Munich (Horizon/A&M, 1976)

With Stanley Turrentine

• Nightwings (Fantasy, 1977)

With McCoy Tyner

• The Turning Point (Birdology, 1992)
• Journey (Birdology, 1993)

References