Vincent Gardner, winner of the 2014 DownBeat “Rising Star” Critics Poll for Trombone (and 2014 DownBeat “Rising Star” Critics Poll Nominee for Male Vocalist) was born in Chicago, Illinois. After moving to Brooklyn in 1996, Vincent subsequently performed with several notable ensembles and musicians, including The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Illinois Jacquet, The Saturday Night Live Band, Matchbox 20, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, and Frank Foster. As a bandleader, Gardner has released four albums under the Steeple Chase record label. He performs with his own groups frequently, in addition to being the lead trombonist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Gardner also performs often with his brother, trumpeter Derrick Gardner and his ensemble, The Jazz Prophets.
Over the course of his affiliation with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, he has contributed many arrangements and commissioned works for various performances of that ensemble. In 2009 he was commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center to compose a work entitled: “The Jesse B. Semple Suite” which featured his original compositions intertwined with the short stories of author Langston Hughes featuring his character Jesse B. Semple. In the 2011-2012 season of Jazz at Lincoln Center Vincent Gardner was the musical director for the crtically acclaimed program “Bird With Strings” which featured Charles McPherson and Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson on alto saxophones. In 2013 Vincent Gardner was appointed Director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra, and actively engages in working with young musicians internationally as part of that initiative.