Trumpeter Tim Hagans’ (b. 1954 Dayton, Ohio) first big break came in 1974 when he hooked up with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Hagans moved to Sweden in 1977 where he played with such Danish-based American jazz expatriates as Ernie Wilkins, Sahib Shihab, and “one of my all-time heroes”, trumpeter Thad Jones. After returning to the U.S. in 1981, he taught at the University of Cincinnati and at Berklee (1984-1986). In 1987 Hagans made the move to New York where he has worked with Maria Schneider, The Yellowjackets, and Gary Peacock. Joe Lovano produced and played on Hagans’ first Blue Note Album. Hagans has been nominated for three Grammys and has received numerous honors including the ASCAP/IAJE Established Composer Award and an honorary doctorate from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.