THE THEO CROKER COLLECTIVE

Producer, composer, & trumpeter Theo Croker is an adventurous musician whose adept skills find him at home playing standards, swinging post-bop, or more groove-oriented electric jazz. A native of Leesburg, Florida, Croker is the grandson of the late great jazz trumpeter Doc Cheatham. He began playing trumpet around age 11 after hearing Cheatham play in New York City, and by his teens was studying music at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. From 2003 to 2007, Croker attended the music conservatory at Oberlin College. While at Oberlin, he was mentored by legendary trumpeter and educator Donald Byrd. Croker has toured the world over, even taking up a five month residency at Shanghai’s House of Blues. He’s played and collaborated with incredible musicians such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irwin Hall, Kassa Overall, Evan Flory-Barnes, Tim Kennedy, and many more. He packs the Black Cat basement whenever he’s in town, so book your tickets now!