I think a good trumpet player is defined by his or her ability to translate a feeling or emotion in to music. Technique helps with that, but is not always necessary. That is why I think that Winton Marsalis is a really bad trumpet player. His technique is unmatchable, but I haven`t heard him play anything with feeling. therefore I think Miles Davis is one of the best, although he is not alive anymore and Maurice Andre was really good. I haven`t heard that many different trumpet players so I may have missed someone.

Without any hesitation I would say the best trumpet player ever, even now would be Phil Driscoll. He`s got it all, extreme upper register, master of all jazz forms, full tone in extreme lower register, instant switching capabilities without loss of tone, note bending techniques matched by no other, and he have dedicated his life to Christ and the furtherment of his kingdom. You can`t get any better than this.

I would say Sergei Nakariakov is the best player I have heard for pure technique.If you ever listened to Rafael Mendez this is as near as I`ve found.I know Sandoval crosses over but to me he is a jazz player.

I belive Maynard Ferguson is the best JAZZ trumpet player. He has very high range

Maynard Ferguson is not a jazz trumpeter. He is a scream trumpeter, and he is getting a little old. There are many guys out there that can outblow Maynard. As for Jazz, Wynton Marsalis is the best. Classical too. He is the only one to have won a Grammy for Classical and Jazz in the same year. Twice.

no one knows?? its sad... the best of world is Maurice Andre and its over!!!!! the best of all time... and shurly Pierre Dutot, I have a masterclass with pierre dutot.. its amazing!!!!!

I suppose the only way to judge the best at anything is on technique, not expression. Technique can be scored while expression is a matter of oppinion. That being the case, Wynton Marsalis has the best technique. As for expression, I think the majority of people who care also feel that he has the best musicality when he plays. So he is still the best.

Have a look at www.TrumpetStuff.com. There you can listen to some of the top trumpet players of all times, both dead and living. You will see that there is no such thing as the number 1 trumpet player of the world. Each have their strong and weak sides. It`s really up to your own preference who`s the best...

I`m not a trumpet player, but I just love Joe Burgstaller who is currently with Canadian Brass (formerly a member of Meridian Arts Ensemble). His "The Virtuoso Trumpet" CD is incredible - a tribute, I believe to Raphael Mendez (no slouch either!) Joe is versitile, playing many different styles beautifully, and his technique is incredible!

How can anyone one person claim that great title, after i thought about it for a while i realized that there is no true best trumpet player, and, to add to that, everyone has different tastes in music, so for any of us to claim who is the best is unrealistic. Lol, heres what i think sometimes, I personally, like all of you other trumpets (and foreigners...you know who you are!), should only use these proffesional players to improve their own techniques and playing styles and everything else. I`ll admit, when ever i play the trumpet, i always go out there with the mentality that i`m the best, and, i think thats the way everyone should be...just sayin, i think that the best trumpet player should be yourself...thats...all i really meant.

With out question the best trumpet players are Dave Stahl and Scott Englebright. These guys have the best control and style of any trumpet player I`ve ever heard. Also who ever said that classical music is harder than jazz is full of it. I would love to hear a classical trumpet player play Maynard Ferguson like Scott Englebright or Dave Stahl. They would just end up giving some dumb reason why they couln`t like, "Well they play on a shallow mouthpiece". Dr Reinhardt said that the mouthpiece doesn`t matter it`s the chops and if you play correct you should be able to play just as high on any mouthpiece.

well go down to New Orleans and go to some random shows there. Some of the best musicians are the ones that are in small towns or just that back alley Jazz Hole.

I think Arturo Sandoval is the best trumpeter around. I disagree that maynard had a higher register, if you listen to some live Sandoval, I have heard him play in the triple and even quadruple registers.

AL HIRT WILL ALWAYS BE THE KING

AL HIRT WILL ALWAYS BE THE KING