Jason Palmer

Revered Boston trumpeter Jason Palmer had no trouble playing a musician in Damien Chazelle's 2009 film "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench," but there was one aspect of the role that was still fairly new to him: acting. A black-and-white indie flick reminiscent of the French New Wave and perked up with lively song and dance numbers, the film tells the story of a girl trying to cope with her recent breakup. When director Chazelle approached Palmer at the club where he performs once a week and asked the trumpeter if he was interested in the project, Palmer latched onto the filmmaker's enthusiasm and hopped aboard. His decision paid off when the film became a critical darling despite its lack of a proper theatrical run. Outside of his acting work, he is one of the most sought-after jazz musicians of the 21st century. While Palmer has played on many records in support of his colleagues, he has also released three albums under his own name, including his debut ''Songbook'', which was considered by many critics to be one of the best albums of 2008. On top of performing, Palmer teaches at the Berklee College of Music as Assistant Professor of Ensembles.