ABOUT THE ARTIST
meet Omar Abdulkarim
Omar Abdulkarim is an acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and recording artist whose sound bridges the timeless traditions of jazz with a modern, global perspective. Beginning his musical journey at just 14 months old, Omar has spent his life mastering the trumpet and developing a style defined by technical brilliance, soulful expression, and fearless improvisation.
A graduate of the renowned New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, Omar holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance.
His artistry has led him to share the stage with icons such as Roy Hargrove, Redman, Method Man, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Nicholas Payton, and Valerie Ponomarev, as well as to collaborate in the studio with Lauryn Hill and José James.
International Tours
Omar’s career has taken him around the world, performing in Switzerland, Berlin, Italy, and Poland, and touring extensively across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.
His Caribbean and Central American tours include performances in Jamaica, Haiti, St. Thomas, Saint Martin, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
He has appeared at the Haitian Jazz Festival and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and held a celebrated five-night-a-week residency at The Standard Hotel’s Boom Boom Room in New York City.
Where Omar Is Now
Omar has also performed at iconic venues such as Birdland Jazz Club in New York and Orchestra Hall in Chicago, including performances with Nicholas Payton and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
Now based in Minnesota, he is a regular performer at The Dakota, The Fitzgerald Theater, and a featured artist on the Main Stage of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.
Deeply influenced by the legacies of Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, John Coltrane, and Lee Morgan, Omar continues to evolve his sound, blending innovation with tradition. He is currently composing and recording new works for his upcoming album, an exploration of rhythm, soul, and the boundless spirit of modern jazz.