Jeff Helgesen Local Artist

Jeff Helgesen

    Jeff Helgesen, a native and resident of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, has
    been an active fixture in east central Illinois music circles for over
    twenty years. The son of a prominent local trumpet player, Helgesen began
    playing trumpet professionally in local dance bands at the age of 15,
    later studying music at the University of Illinois under Ray Sasaki while
    working actively as a freelance performer and studio musician. In 1987,
    Helgesen accepted a position as a featured soloist with the Ray Charles
    Orchestra, with whom he recorded and toured internationally until late
    1990. Helgesen's credits include live performances with Aretha Franklin,
    Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer, Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson,
    Jimmy Heath, Ed Thigpen, Pete Christlieb, Bill Watrous, and Anthony
    Braxton, the Temptations, and the Jazz Members Big Band of Chicago.
    He has recorded with such artists as Ray Charles, Anthony Braxton,
    Chicago pianist Joan Hickey, the Jazz Members Big Band of Chicago,
    the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project, Chip McNeill, and his own band,
    Jazz Mayhem.