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b. 10 March 1928, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Ferrara began playing trumpet at the age of 10, avidly listening to jazz and swing era giants on radio and records. In particular, he listened to Roy Eldridge who became and remained the single most important influence on his playing. In 1945 he was briefly with a band led by Jerry Wald, then moved over to Georgie Auld’s band before joining the US Army in mid-1946. During his time with the military, Ferrara played in a band where other members were bass player Red Mitchell and drummer Howie Mann, and he also met Warne Marsh. It was through the latter that Ferrara became interested in the work of Lennie Tristano and after his discharge he began studying with Tristano, something he continued to do until the start of the 60s.
During this same period, in addition to teaching, Ferrara also played in the big band assembled by Gene Roland for a Charlie Parker recording session. Although he rehearsed with the band, Ferrara missed the recording session because of a date clash. This was for a 1950 session with Chubby Jackson but instead of touring with this band after the recording, Ferrara joined Woody Herman’s Third Herd. After a year with Herman, Ferrara returned to New York where he gigged and taught and continued his own studies with Tristano. In New York during the mid-50s he played and sometimes recorded with various bands, including those led by Lee Konitz and Gerry Mulligan, playing with the latter in both a sextet and the Concert Jazz Band. In the early 60s Ferrara played a regular engagement with Tristano at New York’s Half Note Club and during the rest of the decade continued with his teaching. In the early 70s, he relocated to the west coast, joining Gary Foster’s teaching studio. On through to the 90s, he continued to live and teach in California, most of his teaching work being conducted at long range through audio cassettes. A gifted and unassuming section man (his first ever interview was given to Jazz Journal International’s Gordon Jack in 1999), when the company was right Ferrara readily proved himself to be also a skilled and highly individual soloist.