Todd Bashore

Todd Bashore is a Lecturer in Jazz Composition and Arranging and Director of the Creative Large Ensemble at Princeton University, with additional faculty appointments at Temple University. A Durham, NC native with over 30 years of experience in the New York City jazz scene, his work spans performance, composition, and arranging across jazz, Latin jazz, and commercial music.

Education:

• Duke University, Bachelor of Arts in Music, 1994
• Queens College, Master of Arts in Jazz Performance, 1996

His creative research centers on advanced jazz composition techniques and orchestral arranging for large ensembles, with deep expertise in Big Band and Latin Jazz traditions. As a saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist, he bridges historical jazz practices with contemporary cross-genre collaborations, having created over 45 pedagogical arrangements for Vandoren while maintaining active performance partnerships with major artists.

Scientific Awards:

• 2024: GRAMMY Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
• 2022: GRAMMY Winner, Best Latin Jazz Album
• 2021: GRAMMY Winner, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
• 2020: GRAMMY Nominee (Large Ensemble) & Latin GRAMMY Winner (Latin Jazz)
• 2018: GRAMMY Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
• 2017: GRAMMY Winner (Large Ensemble) & Nominee (Tropical Latin)
• 2014: GRAMMY Winner (Latin Jazz), Latin GRAMMY Winner (Instrumental), & Nominee
• 2012: GRAMMY Winner, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
• 2008: GRAMMY Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Todd Bashore maintains an active global educational presence through clinics and masterclasses, having taught at Princeton University, Temple University, Queens College, The New School, and Rutgers University. His pedagogical approach integrates professional performance experience with structured composition curriculum.

He directs Princeton University's Creative Large Ensemble and serves as a Yanagisawa and Vandoren performing artist, with recent recordings including the 2024 GRAMMY-nominated "Walk a Mile in My Shoe" and 2025 releases "Live in Johannesburg" and "Without Further Ado, Vol. 1".