Adolfo Acosta - Second Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Adolfo began playing the cornet in the fourth grade school band and orchestra programs, and switched to the trumpet shortly after. At around age 13, he fell in love with the sound and feeling of playing in the school jazz ensemble and decided to focus his develpment in the areas of jazz and improvisation.

During his high school years he would listen from the outside of local jazz clubs to hear his trumpet teacher Jeff Elliott playing gigs with different bands. It sounded like they were having so much fun playing music together, and is one of the reasons Adolfo decided to become a professional musician.

After high high school he started taking lessons with Bobby Shew and began to get a taste of what it was like to be a musician playing different types of music around town. He then studied at the University of North Texas in hopes of sharpening his skills before making his move to a bigger city. There he had the fortune of playing with the One O'Clock Lab, continued to gain professional experience outside of school, and studied with Jay Saunders. Adolfo participated with numerous ensembles on and off campus performing music of different genres and from different eras.

A spot in Maynard Ferguson's band opened up around late summer of 1998, and he was soon on board to begin a two year run with the jazz trumpeter who is also one of his all time heroes. From the summer of 2000, he got the opportunity to tour with the world renowned band Tower Of Power. He enjoys keeping a busy schedule making music and touring the world. Adolfo plays a Yamaha 8310Z trumpet and a Yamaha 8310Z flugelhorn.

All band member biographies were compiled by Leo Sacks.

Leo Sacks is a freelance record producer in New York. With Emilio Castillo, he co-wrote “Happy ‘Bout That” and “Stranger In My Own House” for Tower of Power’s Oakland Zone (Or Music, 2003), and the bonus track “Nothing Like It” for the European edition.