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Grammy® Award-winning trumpeter Bijon Watson’s (Boston, MA) career as a musician and educator spans more than 30 years and has taken him around the globe to perform for audiences worldwide. From Boston, Massachusetts, Watson attended the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory School and the University of Southern California.
Watson plays lead trumpet for the Grammy®-nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Grammy®-winning John Daversa Progressive Big Band, the Grammy®-winning John Beasley’s Monkestra, José Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, the late Gerald Wilson Jazz Orchestra, and many other jazz, salsa, and pop bands throughout the United States. Most recently, Watson can be heard with pianist/composer Steven Feifke showcasing his talents with their Grammy® Award-winning big band, The Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.
Watson’s recording and live performance and touring credits are vast and the short list includes iconic artists such as Natalie Cole, Michael Bublé, Justin Timberlake, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Michael Jackson, Arturo Sandoval, among many others.
On television, Watson has performed on episodes of American Idol, The Voice, and The Tonight Show, as well as the Grammy Awards shows, The BET Music Awards, and Dancing With The Stars. Watson’s film appearances include appearing in the award-winning film La La Land and recording on several soundtracks with studios such as Paramount, Fox, and Disney, including Epic, Despicable Me 2, and The Secret Life of Pets. As a classically trained musician, Watson has had the opportunity to perform as a guest with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Opera, just to name a few.
A dedicated educator, Watson is an Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music, as well as a sought-after clinician who gives master classes and clinics to colleges and high schools throughout the United States and Europe.