Christopher Hanson
Christopher Hanson, a native of Minot, North Dakota, is presently a freelance performer in the Fargo-Moorhead area, performing primarily on trombone and occasionally on bass guitar and piano for a variety of functions. He began his playing career with the US Army Band, where he served on active duty from 1996 to 1999 with the 323rd US Army Band at Fort Sam Houston. While assigned to the unit, Hanson served as section leader of the concert and ceremonial bands while also serving as lead trombonist and featured soloist with the jazz ensemble.
Outside of the military, Hanson has peformed in southwest Texas, Virginia, and North Dakota in a variety of styles of music. He has performed primarily with jazz musicians, and has been seen on stage with artists to include Randy Brecker, Bruce Paulsen, Ron Wilkins, Dave Steinmeier, and Tom Malone. Outside of the jazz world, Hanson has also performed with Loretta Lynn and Janie Fricke.
Hanson has studied music at The Armed Forces (US Navy) School of Music where he was selected as honor graduate, University of Texas- San Antonio, and North Dakota State University. At NDSU, Hanson has performed in almost all instrumental ensembles, to include the jazz ensemble, jazz combo, brass ensemble, brass quintet, and the Gold Star Marching and Concert Bands.
Hanson continues to perform in Fargo, serving as lead trombone in the Fargo-Moorhead Jazz Arts Group and assistant to the director of the FM Youth Jazz Arts Lab Band. He performs with several jazz combos, was a charter member of the blues and rock band Patents Pending, and is the assistant musical director at Living Hope Baptist Church in West Fargo. Hanson is also active as an arranger, having written for the NDSU jazz combo, the NDSU Gold Star Marching Band, and Oak Grove Lutheren Schools. He serves as the executive director of the Jass Festival, a non-profit jazz organization that promotes jazz and big band music in North Dakota. Hanson presently holds a studio where he teaches private trombone lessons as well as electric bass guitar lessons.
