Pat Harbinson

Jazz trumpeter and educator Pat Harbison is Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies at Indiana University, where he taught from 1997-2023. He currently serves as Clinical Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana). He was previously on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music from 1984-1997. He was on the faculty of Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops from 1976-2019. He is also the founding director of Jazz Retreats, which stages small group jazz improvisation learning sessions for adults.

Pat grew up in New Albany, Indiana (metropolitan Louisville, KY), where he once again resides. He has performed with his own jazz groups (including his current group, Sextant), and as guest soloist at jazz concerts, festivals, and clubs on six continents. He has recorded and released six CDs as leader or co-leader. He is the author of numerous articles and books on jazz and trumpet playing, including Trumpetology, Technical Studies for the Modern Trumpet and Twenty Authentic Bebop Solos.

Harbison holds degrees from Indiana University and the University of Louisville. His major trumpet teachers were Leon Rapier, Carmine Caruso, and William Adam. His primary jazz teachers were Jamey Aebersold and David Baker.