Earl Gardner (musician)

Earl Wesley Gardner, Jr. (born April 19, 1950 in New York City) is an American jazz trumpeter known for his stint in the house band on Saturday Night Live, a chair he held from 1985 until 2022.

In 1976, he joined The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. He has later joined Carla Bleys Big Band.

Discography
With Carla Bley With George Benson With Angela Bofill With David Bowie With David Byrne With Betty Carter With Casiopea With Hank Crawford With Robin Eubanks With Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra With Tom Harrell With Joe Henderson With Dave Holland With James Ingram With Branford Marsalis With John Scofield With Zoot Sims and the Benny Carter Orchestra With Bob Stewart With The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra With Stanley Turrentine With McCoy Tyner
 * Looking for America (Watt, 2003)
 * Appearing Nightly (Watt, 2008)
 * Big Boss Band (Warner Bros., 1990)
 * I Wanna Love Somebody (Jive, 1983)
 * Never Let Me Down (EMI, 1987)
 * Grown Backwards (Nonesuch, 2004)
 * The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 2019)
 * Sun Sun (Alfa, 1986)
 * Platinum (Polydor, 1987)
 * Tight (Milestone, 1996)
 * Karma (JMT, 1991)
 * Dream Keeper (Blue Note, 1990)
 * Time's Mirror (RCA Victor, 1999)
 * Big Band (Verve, 1997)
 * What Goes Around (ECM, 2002)
 * Never Felt So Good (Qwest, 1986)
 * I Heard You Twice the First Time' (Sony, 1992)
 * Up All Night (Verve, 2003)
 * That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles (Verve, 2005)
 * Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington (1979)
 * Goin' Home (JMT, 1989)
 * Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Rhoda Scott (Barclay, 1976)
 * It Only Happens Every Time (EMI, 1977)
 * Live in Munich (Horizon/A&M, 1976)
 * Nightwings (Fantasy, 1977)
 * The Turning Point (Birdology, 1992)
 * Journey (Birdology, 1993)