Bell Thompson is a vibrant young trumpet player and composer originally from Seattle, WA, and currently based in Boston, MA. Her melodic and expressive trumpet playing celebrates the jazz tradition while showcasing her unique artistic voice.
Bell has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Jaleel Shaw, Kris Davis, and Bruce Barth, among others. She has graced renowned venues including Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz a Vienne, Chris' Jazz Café, Kimmel Cultural Campus, The Royal Room, Jazz Alley, Seattle Jazz Fellowship, and the Washington Women in Jazz Festival.
Bell received the 2021 Jazz Education Network Jamey Aebersold Endowed Scholarship, and has received Outstanding Soloist awards from the Reno Jazz Festival, and Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Bell began playing trumpet at the age of nine, under the guidance of her first trumpet teacher, Owuor Arunga, a member of the acclaimed band Macklemore. She went on to be part of the renowned Garfield High School jazz program, led by the esteemed director and drummer, Clarence Acox, and received mentorship from Samantha Boshnack, Jay Thomas, and Wayne Horvitz.
Bell then pursued her studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, studying with esteemed jazz musicians Terell Stafford and Joe Magnarelli. It was during this time that she began to develop her skills as a composer, with guidance from mentors such as Dick Oatts, Bruce Barth, and Greg Kettinger.
As an educator, Bell has shared her knowledge and passion for jazz as a guest clinician at various high school jazz festivals, including the Auburn High School Jazz Festival, the Ballard High School Summer Jazz Workshop, and the Neshaminy High School Jazz Festival.
Driven by her commitment to addressing the issue of gender equity in jazz education, Bell pursued an independent qualitative research project. Her study, "Gender and Jazz: The Experience of Women in Jazz Education," was funded through the Temple University Diamond Research Scholars Program, and received the prestigious 2021 Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award for Diversity and Social Justice. Bell's research was also featured at the 2022 Jazz Education Network Conference.
Bell co-founded the The Future in Music Program with Yuval Tessman Bar-On, a mentorship initiative designed to empower young female brass players in high school, offering guidance and support for their musical aspirations. The program has had two successful seasons so far, and continues to inspire and empower the next generation of female musicians.
Bell is currently pursuing a Master's degree at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under the mentorship of Danilo Perez and Marco Pignataro.
Photo by Joe Labolito