Somewhat forgotten in the United States, Jon Eardley has long been active in Europe. He began playing trumpet when he was 11. After working in an Air Force band (1946-1949), he played locally (1950-1953) and then worked in New York with Phil Woods (1954). Eardley gained some visibility playing on and off with Gerry Mulligan's quartet and sextet (1954-1957) and is still best-known for that association today. After working back in Pennsylvania for several years, the cool-toned bopper moved to Belgium in 1963 and in 1969, relocated to Germany to play in a radio orchestra. Eardley can be heard at his best on three Spotlite albums, all from 1977. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi