Jonathan Powell is an American trumpeter and bandleader born in Largo, Florida. He began playing the trumpet around age eleven or twelve, drawing inspiration from jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis. During high school, he performed in the Florida All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band before pursuing studies under Raymond Mase at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Powell subsequently established a career in the New York City salsa and Latin jazz scene, working as a freelance trumpeter for over twenty years. He performed for ten years as a member of Eddie Palmieri's groups, and has recorded and performed with prominent acts including Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Miguel Zenón Big Band, Oscar Hernández and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Ricky Martin. In 2024, Powell released the Latin jazz album "Mambo Jazz Party" with his ensemble of the same name.
