Although jazz trumper Brian Lynch was born in Urbana, Ill. and has lived in New York since 1981, he still considers himself a Milwaukee boy. That's because he grew up in Glendale, earned a degree from the Conservatory and cut his musical teeth at Brew City jazz clubs.

Since he left town, Lynch has released a dozen or so discs as a leader and has appeared on dozens more as a sideman. He is immersed in the New York jazz world and his travels have taken him around the globe (he even keeps a cell phone number in Japan!)

His latest effort, "Simpatico," recorded with Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri (artistShare), finds him in the company of not only Palmieri, but also Phil Woods, Lila Downs, Donald Harrison and others.

But despite his success, Lynch has always come back to Milwaukee to play and hasn't forgotten about his friends back home.

We recently asked him about his Milwaukee past, his New York present and more.

OMC: Tell us a bit about growing up in Milwaukee. Where did you live? Did you come from a musical family?

BL: I grew up in Glendale and went to Nicolet High School. My mother sang in the church choir -- she's now pursuing a avocation as a jazz singer in her 70s! -- and my father played a little bit of trumpet. A little jazz was in the house -- Louis Armstrong -- but I really found the music mostly on my own.

OMC: When did you start playing actively in the jazz clubs here? Was there any kind of "scene" here at the time?

BL: I started sitting in in clubs like Lloyd & David's (at Green Bay Road and Capitol Drive), The End -- which became the Main Event later -- and others when I was about 16. I used to borrow my buddy's pre-photo id drivers license to get in. There was a great scene in Milwaukee at the time! The first group I sat in with was Berkeley Fudge's at Lloyd and David's.

OMC: Who were some of the people you worked with here? Was anyone a particular inspiration or mentor to you as a young musician?

BL: My first mentors were Manty Ellis and Berkeley, especially when I started at the Conservatory where they were both teaching. Their guidance and welcoming me into their musical world -- both used me on their gigs -- gave me a lot of motivation and confidence. Tony King, the head of the jazz department, was a great inspiration as well.

Then Buddy Montgomery (vibist and brother of guitarist Wes), who lived in Milwaukee during those years, was the influence. You could go to the Marc Plaza almost any day of the week and hear him, and I also sat in with him a lot. He would even use me on sextet and quintet gigs sometimes. He was a powerful influence; the way he went about music -- by ear, not by paper -- really challenged me and put me on the right path.

Also Melvin Rhyne, the organist - I played with him a lot during my formative years. He's from Indianapolis like Buddy (Rhyne also played with Wes Montgomery) and has that same approach.

And all the talented peers of mine on the scene and in school influenced me: Marcus Robinson, Sam Belton, Charlie Small, David Hazeltine, Jerry Weitzer, Barry Velleman and so many others.

OMC: When and why did you make the decision to move away?

BL: I had always wanted to move to New York ever since the first time I had visited when I was 18. At a certain point a combination of my feeling somewhat prepared to make the move and a drastic fall off of playing opportunities in Milwaukee made me feel it was time. I actually spent about a year in San Diego before I moved to N.Y. That was helpful, to learn how to break into a new scene. I played a lot out there with Charles McPherson, who I learned much from.

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