One to blow his own horn, he'll lead orchestra at festival

Greg Hopkins, a professor of jazz composition for 33 years at the Berklee College of Music, began playing the cornet at age 6 in his hometown of Detroit when his father, an amateur violinist, decided to form a family band. Unable to play the clarinet with his broken hand, Hopkins ended up playing the instrument originally intended for his brother.

A composer, arranger, and performer who also plays the trumpet and flugelhorn, he has produced three CDs and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, the Supremes, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Pops.

Hopkins, a resident of Littleton, will lead his own jazz orchestra in Berklee's BeanTown Jazz Festival showcasing Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, and Geri Allen. The Greg Hopkins 16 Piece Jazz Orchestra will perform contemporary, big-band jazz music , from 1:45 to 3 p.m. Saturday on the Target Stage on Columbus Avenue.

"I founded the band as my vehicle for my musical ideas so I can hear what I write, but there's also a lot of room for improvisation," said Hopkins, who has been known to play a pocket trumpet he keeps in his car when stuck in traffic. "Music is a language for which each player develops [his or her] own dialect. That's what makes it so exciting and fun to be involved in."

For more information about the BeanTown Jazz Festival, which will be presented from Thursday to Saturday, visit beantownjazz.org. All performances are free.

CYNTHIA CANTRELL