Great Trumpet Players and Albums - recommendations

I agree about "First Light"; "Red Clay" is a another good one. CTI was criticized by jazz "purists" for being too commercial. It is true that many of their recordings were cross-over, jazz-fusion or whatever one wants to call the genre; and some, like the Bob James recordings were fairly "lite". However, some like Freddie Hubbard's, were really good jazz recordings even if they possessed some r&b and funk elements. Unfortunately, some people lump all CTI artists together as being less than serious jazz players because some, well, are.

And what the funk is wrong with a little Funk??? :)

I am also a big long time Al Hirt fan. If it is good to me... It is good!!!:)

Maynard Ferguson - New Vintage
Freddie Hubbard - SuperBlue
Woody Shaw - Rosewood
Chuck Mangione - Main Squeeze

Try Chet Baker and Thomas Stanko. Enrico Rava.