Curtis Calderon joined the Freshmen in late 2001. Three years earlier he had a chance meeting when the Freshmen came through San Antonio and saw him performing at the Landing Jazz Club on the riverwalk that led to him being called when their current trumpet player decided to retire from the group. Curtis grew up in San Antonio, TX and started trumpet at the age 11. He won first chair in the Texas All-State Jazz band his senior year in high school. After graduating, he went on to play and tour with many big bands, including the modern day Glenn Miller Orchestra. He currently lives in San Antonio, TX with his two sweet and gentle 100lb Rottweilers. Some of his musical influences early on were Clifford Brown (his favorite trumpeter), Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane. His current favorites on his Ipod are Stevie Wonder, Jason Mraz, Louis Armstrong and Joe Henderson.