Specializes in: Trumpet

Education: M.M. University of Washington, B.M. University of Idaho

      Heralded for his “solos of mercurial poetry and high craft” (Chicago Tribune) Chicago based trumpeter/composer Chad McCullough is active throughout the world.  Dan McClenaghan writes, “He is a rare instrumentalist who makes each note sound as if it were imbued with a deeper meaning.  Certainly a player with great chops, his approach is one that is measured and deliberate, often introspective, sometimes gorgeously melancholic, and one that employs a continuity of mood and atmosphere…” 

      His latest album, Forward, was released in the foal of 2020 and was featured in several “Best Jazz Releases of the Year” lists, including the Chicago Tribune, and All about Jazz.  Featuring the stellar trio of Matt Ulery, Rob Clearfield, and Jon Deitmyer, with post-production and programming by Ryan Cohan, it is on the Outside in Music label.

      Chad’s bands have performed at many festivals including the Festival of New Trumpet Music(New York), the GG Jazz Festival (Russia), Chicago Jazz Festival, The Earshot Jazz Festival (Seattle), Halifax Jazz Festival, and the Appeltuin Jazz Festival (Belgium).

      Chad is currently on the Jazz faculty at DePaul University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.