Fareed Simpson-Hankins is a trumpet player currently serving as the Split-Lead Trumpet Player with the Airmen of Note. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he joined the United States Air Force in 2023.
His professional musical experience includes touring with Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees for the 25th anniversary tour, as well as performances with Bootsy Collins, Lil Wayne, Faith Evans, and Nas. He has also toured extensively with The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, The Captain Black Big Band, The Clayton-Hamilton Big Band, and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. He was also featured on Brothers.Ink critically acclaimed album “Cookin' With Jazz,” as well as Temple University Studio Orchestra’s album “Constant Renaissance,” which was nominated for two GRAMMY awards.
In 2022, he produced and directed “The Second Line Bebop Series,” a film series which highlights cultural parallels between Philadelphia and New Orleans with a focus on jazz music. In 2023 his article titled “Second Line Bebop” highlighted the research through academia and was published in Indiana University Press: Jazz Education, Research and Practice.
Simpson-Hankins completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Temple University - Boyer College of Music and Dance. He was distinguished as the recipient of The Presser Award for Graduate Research Studies at the conclusion of his master’s program. He was then invited to teach at the university as an Artist In Residence, a position he currently holds.
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RESCHEDULED: Ted Nash Big Band
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
9:10 PM - 10:00 PM CST
