Eric Hochberg (1970) Trumpet/Bass
Autobiographical Sketch
My interest in music blossomed through early school music programs and the various bands I organized outside of school, from elementary school on. While involved musically with blues bands during my first two years at New Trier West, I joined the school music program after hearing the NTW Jazz Ensemble perform at Gillson Park, in Wilmette. That evening, after future director Ed Zwick and I performed our original song, the New Trier Jazz Ensemble performed, and I knew then that I wanted to be a part of it.
I approached Roger Mills, the Director, after their set and he encouraged me to audition. During my junior and senior years, I played trumpet and did arrangements for the jazz ensemble. Subsequently I had an arrangement published by Down Beat Magazine. At the end of my senior year, I received the Benny Goodman Trophy and the American Music Award, along with a scholarship to the Berklee School of Music. It was a heady time for me which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I have Roger Mills to thank for it!
I went to Indiana University and studied with David Baker, playing in his Jazz Band and Sextet for two years. I then returned to Chicago to begin my professional career in 1973.
Here is a short Biography. More info can be found at www.erichochberg.com.
A mainstay of the Chicago music scene for more than 40 years, Eric Hochberg has lent his bass work, both upright and electric, and an occasional trumpet, keyboard, and vocal lick to a variety of projects across the realms of jazz, folk, rock, and blues.
He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of musical greats Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Barbra Streisand, Cassandra Wilson, Kurt Elling, Dave Leibman, Sam Rivers, Von Freeman, Ken Nordine, Larry Novak, Don Ellis, Paul Wertico, Von Freeman, David Baker, Steve Kuhn, Jon Faddis, Joshua Redman, Johnny Frigo, Bob Mintzer, Donny McCaslin, Howard Levy, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Chevere de Chicago, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble with Bill Russo, The Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and many others.
The Eric Hochberg Trio performed nightly at Catch 35 Chicago for the eight years before the pandemic hit. Eric can also be heard at Chicago venues The Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, The Jazz Showcase, Fitzgerald’s, Pick Staiger Hall, Millennium Park, Evanston Space, and others.
Eric has toured nationally/internationally with the Lyle Mays Quartet, the Terry Callier Group, the Paul Wertico Trio, the Kurt Elling Quartet, Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz, the Howard Levy Quartet, and the Grazyna Auguscik Quintet.
The Eric Hochberg Orchestra performed at the Chicago Welcomes the World Millennium Celebration for five thousand guests from around the world.
Eric taught jazz and theory classes at The Merit School of Music and was the Director of the Merit Jazz Ensemble for seven years. He currently maintains an active private bass studio where students of all levels learn the jazz language and apply it to their music.
As a Producer, Eric’s credits include The Eric Hochberg Quartet, the Eric Hochberg Trio, World Thing, vocalist Jackie Allen, singer/songwriter Terry Callier, saxophonist Mark Colby, Trio New (Kurt Elling’s original group) and pianist Larry Novak.
Eric’s compositions can be heard on albums by Eric Hochberg, “3” (Williams, Hochberg and Widlowski), “World Thing” by E Hochberg and A Potter, The Paul Wertico Trio, and The Rob Parton Quartet. He also co- wrote the Contrabass Conversations Theme with Jason Heath.
Eric has played on more than 1,000 commercial jingle, television, and movie soundtrack recording sessions, one hundred album projects, and has participated in hundreds of Jazz Clinics and school performances.