John Daversa is a versatile and respected performer, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, and educator. Coming from a musical family, Daversa took an immediate interest in music at an early age; first through piano and voice, and later with trumpet and EVI (Electric Valve Instrument).
By the age of 15, jazz had become part of John’s identity as he attended the Los Angeles Music Magnet, Hamilton High School Academy of the Arts, from 1989 to 1991. After high school, he attended UCLA studying with classical trumpet virtuosi Mario Guarneri and Malcolm McNab. Although John’s musical interests were firmly placed in jazz (playing trumpet and electric bass in the UCLA jazz bands), he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in classical composition. During that time, John won the Herb Alpert Award, David Joel Miller Award, National Trumpet Competition, ITG Jazz Soloist Competition, and was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.
In 1996, he formed the John Daversa Progressive Big Band, which continues to perform regularly in the Los Angeles area. Over the past two years, the band has developed a following at the world famous Baked Potato, performing the last Sunday of every month. Daversa’s compositions and improvisations mirror a musical philosophy that aims to stretch boundaries, while maintaining a reverence for the jazz tradition.
From 2000-2003, John served as Musical Director for Holiday On Ice’s “In Concert”, a large-scale production show based in Europe. He has also toured North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia performing with various artists. He has performed on The Today Show, Late Nite with David Letterman, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live 8 (Berlin), Hamburg Music Festival, Java Jazz Festival (Jakarta), Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreux Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival.
John has had the opportunity to arrange and/or compose for Fiona Apple (Extraordinary Machine, 2005), Eleisha Eagle (Lamplighter 2006), Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (Tribute to Burt Bacharach Live Show, 2005), and Pacific Serenades (Between the Thoughts, 2008) and James Tormé (Love For Sale, 2009).
In 2006, he produced Phil Crosby, Jr.’s Christmas album, Time For Christmas (Vingilot Records), and recently completed production for E1 Entertainment recording artist, James Tormé. John was the Musical Director for Warner Brothers recording artist Renee Olstead from 2004-2009.
Dr. Daversa earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from The University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Studies at California Institute of the Arts in 2006, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California. He is currently a jazz faculty member at California State University Northridge.