Jay Hoggard, born on September 24, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is an American jazz vibraphonist who grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. He began playing piano at a young age and later took up the saxophone before transitioning to the vibraphone at 15. Hoggard’s early career included collaborations with Anthony Davis and Leo Smith in New England during the early 1970s. After moving to New York City in 1977, he worked with notable figures such as Chico Freeman, Sam Rivers, Cecil Taylor, James Newton, and Kenny Burrell. His debut album, Solo Vibraphone, was released in 1979. Throughout his career, Hoggard has performed extensively across the United States, including venues like the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. He has also appeared at major jazz festivals such as those in St. Lucia, Montreux, Mount Fuji, Pori, and Hartford, Connecticut. Notable albums include Days Like These (1979) and Rain Forest (1981). Since 1991, Hoggard has taught Music and African-American Studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.
