Five Fits With: Grammy Nominee and Genre-Bending Musician Theo Croker

Theo Croker, the famed trumpeter, composer, songwriter and Grammy nominee, grew up in a small town in central Florida. That’s where he fell in love with music. “I used to write and perform symphonies in the bathtub instead of bathing—chopsticks, shampoo bottles, beating on the walls,” he says. “I was that kid beating on the desk in school, making sounds with his mouth.”

He continues: “I like quality and integrity. I don't like fast things. I like good service. I like great food. I like great clothing that doesn't fall apart made in small batches. I like sophisticated things.”

Now 39, Croker holds a vast series of accomplishments. He’s just released his eighth studio album, dream manifest, and tours almost constantly. And though some would call Croker a jazz musician, he’s ready to move beyond the label. “Fuck jazz,” he tells me at one point during our conversation. His new album is expansive, and spans many kinds of sounds I love—jazz, fusion, neo-soul, hip-hop, and rap (to name a few).

I’d be remiss not to mention how cool this guy really is. His music and accolades speak volumes, but so do his personal style and ease. Below, we discuss childhood memories of Sade in the car, his new album [can we link to it here when it drops on 6-13?] and the process in making it, his personal style journey and how comfort has taken precedence, and plenty more.

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Was there a seminal moment when you fell in love with music?

I can't remember a moment where I didn't love music. I think my earliest memory of music is in the car with my parents back in ’87. They had bench seats. I stood in the middle, put my hands on the ceiling and my feet between them, and demanded that they play Smooth Operator by Sade. I was three. I've always just had an affinity for music, everything about it. Both my parents were big music heads. My dad was the jazz guy. My mom was more the pop person and my brother was into hip hop, R&B, and electronic music. I was surrounded by music.

How has your musical message changed from the start of your career to now?

I really don't think it has. It just goes deeper. I continue to investigate what that message is and what it means to try to bring high vibrations out of the music. I know if it can make me vibrate and raise my frequencies, it's going to do that for the people listening to it. I'm constantly digging deeper into that.

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Talk to me about your newest album, dream manifest. Was there anything that you did differently this time?

I booked 17 days in the studio,and I showed up with one song. After six days, we had about 30 songs. I didn't write anything ahead of time other than one piece. We didn't rehearse. We didn't plan it. I just brought the band. It was in December, and we had just finished touring. We did 120 shows that year. So, we were a band band. Any idea we came up with just flowed straight out. I didn't overthink it, just let it go.

But then you also have some people doing featured vocals on it, too.

Right. Kassa Overall came through the studio. Dilo came through the studio—two great producers I worked with, and they had little sketches of ideas and I said, “Let's run with it.” We did takes, created it, and then added the vocals right then and there. Some things later, like 64 joints—I was like, “Man, I want to add vocals to this melody. Doubling the trumpet is the vocals.” So I did bring somebody in and write that, and then we re-recorded the melody together.

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When did you first become interested in clothing and style?

I've always been interested in clothing and style, but I my mid-30s is when I really got comfortable with what my style was. It took me a while to see something and understand how it would look on me. I'm not as visual of a creative as I am sonically. I was really into suits and ties when I was coming up. That was the jazz look, very bespoke and dandy was the thing. Then it became a little sportier. I became a little more comfortable being that way in streetwear and sportswear.

Did you just feel like you had to do that?

No, I just feel like I was showing up as the 28-year-old dressed like an old man. I had friends and other collaborators like, “Man, if you would just throw on some sneakers and some streetwear, cats would think you're 20-something.” Now here I am approaching 40, dressing younger.

Obviously, jazz has a rich history of super stylish musicians. Maybe you wouldn't call your music jazz, but what role does style play in your music?

Coming out of a legacy of Miles Davis, probably the most stylish jazz artist, but even Sun Ra on the other end of the spectrum of style…For me, it really helps tell more of the story. It really helps bring people in who may not be familiar with the music or the style of it. Sometimes how you present yourself visually can draw in people that have nothing to do with the music and then make them more open-minded to what they're going to hear.

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Is there any separation between how you dress offstage and onstage?

No, but there are some limitations on stage. I need to be able to move. If it's too constricting or too tight, it's a problem. So there are things I can wear offstage that I can't pull off onstage. If something is too heavy—I'm playing the trumpet—my shoulders get tired. I've had to learn the hard way over the years.

Are there any style lessons you've learned from playing music?

Weight, movement, how quickly I can get that item ready to wear onstage when our flight is late—you have to consider that. Making sure accessories aren't things that are going to get stuck on the instrument as you turn to the right or left. Keep in mind you're going to be under hot lights, so wear proper glasses so you don't get headaches. When you're packing, you can only bring so much stuff, so I'm trying to bring items that can go with every item. My whole closet has become that. If I acquire a new piece, it's got to be something that's going to go with everything else.

What are some of your favorite brands?

Nicholas Daley, House of Aama, Art Comes First, Chateau Maison Rouge, Daily Paper. These are little outside of the norm, I guess. I like small collections of things. I like to wear things that other people aren't going to wear. Not to snub it, but just to just be individualized. I have pieces that I've had for 10, 12 years that I can put away for three seasons or three years and then bring back out and they're timeless.

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Can you give me your three non-negotiable albums you think people should listen to?

Gato Barbieri, Caliente, would be number one. Gloria Estefan, Mi Tierra. The whole album is in Spanish. It's incredible. These are just albums I've been listening to my whole life. They never get old. And James Brown, Soul on Top. We'll go old school.

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?

It would have to have flared or open bottoms, kind of baggy. Man, I could wear the right sweatsuit for the rest of my life. Freedom.

Is there a pair of glasses you would wear for the rest of your life?

I could wear these glasses by Paradis Winslet for the rest of my life. I have been wearing these glasses for a year and a half straight. Every outfit I put on, they work.