Jay Daly's career as a musician and educator spans more than 40 years, taking him around the United States and the globe. Born and raised in the New Hampshire coast town of Hampton, Jay began playing trumpet at age eight. By his late teen years in the 1960s he was playing professional jobs six nights a week with the local union big band performing at Hampton Beach. The regionally in-demand Ted Herbert Orchestra also put the young Jay Daly on as Ted's lead trumpet, leading to hundreds of performances. 

Jay gained a music degree from the University of New Hampshire where he played lead trumpet in the UNH Jazz Band. The UNH Jazz Band, although not as well known as other jazz schools at that time, was chosen by legendary trumpeter Clark Terry to accompany him to the Montreaux International Jazz Festival. The band was the first-ever college ensemble to perform an evening program at the esteemed venue and also backed Clark during his appearances. Also during this period Jay was selected for the prestigious Disneyland All-American College Band where he honed his chops during a rigorous summer-long performance schedule.​ 

Jay studied with Robert Stibler and James West, (University of New Hampshire,)   Charles Schlueter, (Boston Symphony,)  Robert Nagel, (NY Brass Quintet,) Leon Merian, (one of the best known and highly regarded lead trumpets of the big Band Era, ) and Wes Hensel (lead trumpet for Les Brown and Las Vegas show bands.) 

Jay's performance and touring credits are as wide-ranging as they are extensive. The short list includes more than 15 years touring with the Artie Shaw and Harry James Orchestras respectively as lead trumpet. Jay also played lead trumpet in the Herb Pomeroy Orchestra, Ken Hadley’s Big Band, Craig Ball's White Heat Swing Orchestra and the John Allmark Jazz Orchestra among many others. Today Jay is a regular member of the Greg Hopkins Big Band (Greg, the notable trumpet and arranger alumnus of Buddy Rich's big band) and the Capitol City Jazz Orchestra (Concord, NH.) 

As a first-call Boston-based freelancer Jay has performed with Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Steve Lawence and Edie Goumet, Johnny Mathis, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Arethra Franklin, Natalie Cole and Linda Ronstadt. In the field of jazz Jay has performed with Randy Brecker, Dexter Gordon, Butch Miles, Lew Soloff, Phil Woods, Phil Wilson, Bijon Watson, Clark Terry, Louie Bellson and many others, 

Despite his jazz pedigree Jay does not consider himself a jazz artist. Rather, he says he is a classically trained musician who specializes in musical theater, big band trumpet section work, recording session calls, and solo programs with ensembles playing classical repertory. Jay founded some 40 years ago the New England Brass, a quintet that he still leads, continuing to gain audience kudos and critical approval whenever it performs in concert. 

Not the least of Jay's many notable "gigs" was playing in the Barnum and Bailey Brothers' Circus band. Jay was a first-call trumpet for the circus whenever it came to Boston for years. Those in the know realize what a supremely demanding job a circus musician faces in terms of the highest standard of musicianship and sheer stamina. 

Today you won't find Jay in the circus band but you will frequently find him in a musical theater pit orchestra. Jay is the musical contractor for the North Shore Music Theater, Beverly, MA. In this role Jay hires an orchestra for each of the theater's shows. Jay and these pit bands have performed virtually every hit Broadway musical play spanning the past 20 years. Jay also travels widely on call to other New England and New York musical theaters. And over the past three years Jay produced his first original show concert that tells the story of the popular trumpet in America. Titled, From Stardust to Penny Lane: A Celebration of the Popular Trumpet, the show features Jay's solo trumpet in front of a big band or symphony pops orchestra. The show premiered to enthusiastic audiences and had a limited run during 2019. It was scheduled for a performance at the Lincoln Center in April 2020 (plus future bookings) but the pandemic intervened. 

Jay's credo includes working hard to continually improve and treating others with respect and humility. He says he learned these tenets from two mentors -- Fred Buda and Herb Pomeroy. 

The late Fred Buda was for 36 years the principal percussionist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Boston Ballet. Fred also was the go-to musical contractor and drummer for bands hired for virtually all of Boston's stage musicals. Jay was one of Fred's favorites. Fred was also universally regarded as one of the nicest people one could meet. 

The late Herb Pomeroy was internationally known as a trumpet player, arranger, bandleader, and gentle soul. Like Buda, Pomeroy was known for his geniality and selflessness as an educator and performer. Jay says he tried to model his playing, philosophy and career on the life lessons learned from Fred Buda and Herb Pomeroy. 

A dedicated educator who spent the first decade of his career combining public high school band directing with professional trumpet engagements, Jay is today an in-demand clinician. Jay offers master classes, clinics, residencies and guest artist programs for colleges, preparatory schools, high schools, middle schools, and private music schools throughout the United States along with a private lesson studio in Beverly, Massachusetts.