Alex Sipiagin
Trumpet / Flugelhorn
Alex Sipiagin is a highly acclaimed jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player
known for his commanding sound, melodic imagination, and contributions as a bandleader, sideman, and educator.
On tour internationally with his own groups and appearing as a sideman with leading jazz artists, a powerful creative voice on the contemporary jazz scene.
After studying classical and jazz trumpet at the Moscow Music Institute and the Gnessin Conservatory, Sipiagin gained early recognition in 1990 when he placed 4th in the International Louis Armstrong Competition sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute in Washington, D.C., an achievement that helped launch his international career.
Soon after, he moved to New York City, where he became a sought‑after performer.
He worked with major ensembles including the Gil Evans Orchestra,
George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, and the Mingus Big Band (as well as its offshoots Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra).
Sipiagin also collaborated with jazz luminaries such as Dave Holland’s Big Band and Sextet, Michael Brecker’s Quindectet and Sextet, and other renowned artists.
As a bandleader, Sipiagin has recorded over twenty albums, primarily for prestigious jazz labels like Criss Cross Jazz, showcasing his rich compositional voice and inventive post‑bop playing. He’s featured celebrated collaborators such as Chris Potter, Mulgrew Miller, David Binney, Eric Harland, and others across his discography.
His work also appears on numerous Grammy‑winning and nominated recordings, including albums by the Dave Holland Big Band and Michael Brecker Quindectet.
Beyond performance, Sipiagin is a dedicated educator. He has taught at New York University (NYU), held residencies at the Amsterdam Conservatory and at institutions such as the Academy of Music in Basel and Siena Jazz in Italy, where he shares his deep knowledge of jazz improvisation and ensemble playing.
