Bandleader And Trumpeteer Anthony Hervey

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Featuring Anthony Hervey

Episode: Bandleader And Trumpeteer Anthony Hervey
Host: Alison Stewart
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Duration: Approximately 19 minutes

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of ALL OF IT, hosted by Alison Stewart on WNYC, listeners are introduced to Anthony Hervey, an acclaimed jazz trumpeter and composer renowned for his regular performances at Lincoln Center. Praised by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis as "a beautiful trumpet player of the first magnitude," Anthony brings a wealth of experience and passion to the conversation. The episode seamlessly blends insightful dialogue with live musical performances, offering a deep dive into Anthony's musical journey and creative process.

---

Guest Background and Early Influences

Anthony Hervey shares his roots and the journey that led him to the vibrant cultural hub of Harlem. Originating from Florida, Anthony recounts his move to New York City for school, specifically to attend the prestigious Juilliard School.

"I moved up to New York City for school, so I was at Juilliard, and a lot of musicians actually live uptown, so it was kind of a place that I naturally gravitated towards." (09:28)

Growing up in a musically inclined family, Anthony was the only sibling to pursue the trumpet, diverging from his brothers who played the saxophone. This unique path was influenced by his mother's connection to her late father, Anthony's great-uncle, a trumpet player whose legacy inspired Anthony's own musical pursuits.

"My mom, her grandfather played trumpet. He passed before I was born... my mom made me play trumpet, and I reluctantly agreed to do so, but I didn't know it was going to be something that I fell in love with. And, hey, we're here now." (09:48)

---

Discovering a Passion for the Trumpet

Anthony vividly recalls the pivotal moment that ignited his passion for the trumpet. In sixth grade, a documentary on Blue Note Records featured a brief but impactful clip of Freddie Hubbard, which left an indelible mark on him.

"I was watching a documentary on Blue Note Records, and a clip of Freddie Hubbard came on. It's like watching Kobe Bryant play basketball. That 20 seconds of him playing is literally why I'm in New York City." (10:36)

This encounter not only solidified his love for the trumpet but also set him on the path to becoming a professional musician.

---

Musical Education and Growth at Juilliard

Attending Juilliard was a transformative experience for Anthony, both personally and professionally. He emphasizes the importance of the collaborative environment and the rigorous schedule that fostered his growth.

"I grew in a lot of ways being at Juilliard, just being in New York City by myself... surrounded by a lot of incredible musicians at the school. We collectively grew together, hitting sessions late at night and managing our time between studies and performances." (11:11)

This period was instrumental in honing his technical skills and expanding his musical horizons, preparing him for a successful career in jazz.

---

Interweaving Poetry and Music

Anthony's creative process extends beyond music into the realm of poetry. He draws inspiration from literary works, seamlessly integrating poetic elements into his compositions.

"My poetry skills are not that good, but I'm very inspired by words. For instance, the first song we played was 'Words for My Horn,' which is the title of my debut record. I have a song, 'Crystal Stair,' inspired by Langston Hughes' poem 'Mother to Son.'" (11:44, 12:24)

This fusion of poetry and music allows Anthony to explore deeper thematic elements and add a lyrical dimension to his trumpet performances.

---

Debut Album and Future Projects

Since releasing his debut album in 2023, Anthony has been diligently working on his second project. He shares his excitement and meticulous approach to creating new music, ensuring each piece resonates with his artistic vision.

"I'm in the process of working on my second album. It's still in the development phase, so I don't like to rush my process. I've been writing a lot of new music, and I'm planning on recording by the summer." (12:28)

Fans can look forward to fresh compositions that continue to showcase his evolving style and dedication to jazz.

---

Live Performance Highlights

The episode features a live performance by Anthony, where he interprets Hoagy Carmichael's classic "The Nearness of You." This rendition underscores his ability to blend traditional jazz standards with his unique stylistic nuances.

"We're going to do a song by Hoagy Carmichael. This is one of my favorite composers... 'The Nearness of You'." (12:47)

Listeners are treated to a soulful performance that exemplifies Anthony's mastery of the trumpet and his deep connection to jazz heritage.

---

Conclusion

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by highlighting Anthony Hervey's dual role as a performer and a creative artist deeply influenced by his environment and experiences in Harlem. The conversation not only sheds light on Anthony's personal journey but also celebrates the rich cultural tapestry that shapes his music.

"That was Anthony Hervey with a live performance of 'The Nearness of You' from our January Get Lit Book Club event." (14:49)

Listeners are left with an appreciation for Anthony's artistry and a keen anticipation for his forthcoming projects.

---

Notable Quotes

• "I moved up to New York City for school, so I was at Juilliard... it was kind of a place that I naturally gravitated towards." – Anthony Hervey (09:28)

• "That 20 seconds of him playing is literally why I'm in New York City." – Anthony Hervey (10:36)

• "My poetry skills are not that good, but I'm very inspired by words." – Anthony Hervey (11:44)

• "I'm planning on recording by the summer." – Anthony Hervey (12:28)

---

Takeaways

• Anthony Hervey's journey from Florida to Juilliard in New York City highlights the influence of environment and education on artistic development.
• The integration of poetry into his music demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of his creative process.
• Anthony's commitment to crafting his second album reflects his dedication to personal and professional growth within the jazz genre.
• Live performances remain a central aspect of his connection with audiences, showcasing his technical prowess and emotional depth.

---

Listen to the Episode

For a deeper exploration of Anthony Hervey's musical insights and to enjoy his captivating performances, tune into ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart on WNYC.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Let's end this hour how we end all of our get lit events with music. Anthony Hervey is an acclaimed jazz trumpeter and composer who plays regularly at Lincoln Center. Wynton Marsalis has said of him that he's, quote, a beautiful trumpet player of the first magnitude. We were grateful that Anthony was able to join us for our January get lit Book club event. In just a minute, you'll hear my conversation with Anthony. But first, here he is with a live performance of words from my horn and centerpiece.

[Anthony Hervey]

Sa. It's. That's Will Hill on the piano. Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Will Hill.

[Anthony Hervey]

Hello. Hello.

[Alison Stewart]

So this month's book takes place in Harlem.

[Anthony Hervey]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

You live in Harlem by way of Florida. How'd you arrive in Harlem?

[Anthony Hervey]

Well, I moved up to New York City for school, so I was at Juilliard, and a lot of musicians actually live uptown, so it was kind of a place that I naturally gravitated towards.

[Alison Stewart]

You grew up in Florida?

[Anthony Hervey]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Did you come from musical family?

[Anthony Hervey]

In a way, yeah. All my siblings played saxophone, so I'm the only one who played trumpet. There's four of us.

[Alison Stewart]

You're the only. How did you come on the trumpet if everybody else is playing saxophone?

[Anthony Hervey]

That's a good question. Well, my mom, her grandfather played trumpet. He passed before I was born, so I never met him. But I guess the memory of him playing was like something that she always had in the back of her mind. So I had to pick an elective for middle school, and I wanted to play basketball, and my mom was like, okay, you need an elective, though. You're short. I don't know if you're going to be Kobe or LeBron James. So, yeah, she made me play trumpet, and I reluctantly agreed to do so, but I didn't know it was going to be something that I fell in love with. And, hey, we're here now.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. So when did you realize, wow, this is something I could do? This is something I could do professionally.

[Anthony Hervey]

I remember I was watching tv. I was in sixth grade, and I was watching this documentary on Blue Note Records. And as soon as I clicked on the channel, this clip of Freddie Hubbard came on tv. And Freddie is one of the most incredible trumpet players to ever live. And I had never heard somebody play trumpet like that. It's like watching Kobe Bryant play basketball or something. And I only heard him play for, like, 20 seconds. And that 20 seconds of him playing is literally why I'm in New York City.

[Alison Stewart]

Wow.

[Anthony Hervey]

Wow.

[Alison Stewart]

During your time at Juilliard, what did it teach you about music?

[Anthony Hervey]

My time at Juilliard, what did it teach me about music? Well, I feel like I grew in a lot of ways being at Juilliard, just being in New York City by myself. You know, as a young person, I feel like that's kind of where I grew into an adult. And I was really fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of incredible musicians at the school. And so I feel like we all kind of collectively grew together. You know, just being in school and then hitting sessions late at night and then getting like three hours asleep before 9am classes and then to see what everybody's doing now, you know, we all have been working hard.

[Alison Stewart]

I read about you that you write poetry and then you take the rhythm of your poems and you turn them into songs. How does that work?

[Anthony Hervey]

Well, my poetry skills are not that good, but I do write sometimes. But I feel like I'm very inspired by words. Like, even the first song that we played was called Words for My Horn, which is the title of my debut record. And so I take a lot of inspiration from, like, poets. So I actually have a song, Crystal Stair, that I've written, which is inspired by the words of Langston Hughes, his poem Mother to Son. You know, life ain't been no crystal stare. So sometimes I'll take little things like that and put it in my music.

[Alison Stewart]

As you said, you released your debut album in 2023. What's next?

[Anthony Hervey]

Well, I'm actually in the process of working on my second album, so I'm really excited for that. It's still in the development phase, so I don't like to rush my process. So I've been writing a lot of new music, so definitely by the summer, I'm planning on recording, so I'm pretty excited.

[Alison Stewart]

What are we going to hear next?

[Anthony Hervey]

Well, we're going to do a song by Hoagie Carmichael. This is. He's one of my favorite composers, and this is a beautiful song. We got Valentine's Day around the corner too, but this is the Nearness of youf.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, let's go.

[Anthony Hervey]

Sam Sa. Sam.

[Alison Stewart]

Sa Sa. That was Anthony Hervey with a live performance of the classic the Nearness of you from our January Get Lit with all of it book club event. I'm Alison Stewart. Have a great weekend, and I'll meet you back here next time.

[C]

Our state has changed a lot in the last 140 years. We know because Multicare has been here guided by a single making our communities healthier. That comes from making courageous decisions, partnering with local communities to grow programs and services, and expanding healthcare access to those who need it most. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org.

[D]

NYC now delivers the most up to date local news from WNYC and Gothamist every morning, midday and evening. With three updates a day. Listeners get breaking news, top headlines, and in depth coverage from across New York City. By sponsoring programming like NYC now, you'll reach our community of dedicated listeners with premium messaging and an uncluttered audio experience experience. Visit sponsorship wnyc.org to get in touch and find out more.