From 1990-2003 Todd Horton played trumpet and flugelhorn in countless bands in New York City in venues ranging from CBGBs to Carnegie Hall. He was also a freelance studio musician, recording on demos and albums for many artists in many genres. His muted trumpet was featured on numerous national television commercials as well as promotional ads for films and specials on HBO and Cinemax. He also played Hammond organ on the main promotional ad for the HBO hit series The Sopranos.

Horton's desire to expand the sonic possibilities for the trumpet prompted him to explore using guitar effects processors in the early 1990's; distortion, wah wah, harmonizer, delay, phaser and various filters etc. With his band D BOP, a hard-edged, Jazz/Rock fusion group, he performed electrified, primarily in rock venues. As a result of that exposure he began getting calls to play with rock and funk bands. Doors opened that weren't typically open to other Trumpet players.

Below are some samples of Horton's playing with various artists he has worked with. Samples marked with * feature his electrified trumpet, (or "Trumpetar", as coined by Sean McCaul). More samples of his playing can be heard at Soulsearch Music.











Ani Difranco

Spin Doctors*

Ronny Jordan

Martha Redbone*

Girl Friday

Section 31*

Steve Smithie















African Blue Note*

Francis M'Bappe

Abass Badji


Sean McCaul*

Pat Daugherty*

Winston Grennan

Norah Jones

© 2009 Todd Horton           all rights reserved          contact: todd@toddhorton.com