Art Farmer的形象很平实，不是很狂热的表现，也许不像有些乐手在某一领域中独领风骚，但他的音乐肯定是力道十足的。他与Clark Terry一样在努力使短号（flugelhorn）成为一项普遍被接受的乐器。 他小时后开始学的是钢琴和小提琴，他有一位双胞胎兄弟Addison Farmer（贝斯手）。1945年开始作一位专业的乐手，他加入Johnny Otis、Jay McShann、Roy Porter、Benny Carter以及Gerald Wilson等人带领的乐团。1951-52之间与Wardell Gray合作，1953年与Lionel Hampton的大乐队到欧洲做演出。 1953年移居纽约，1954-56年之间与萨克斯风手Gigi Gryce合作。1956-58年加入钢琴手Horace Silver的五重奏。1958-59年之间是Gerry Mulligan的四重奏的一员。在他的音乐成形期间，Art Farmer 是在学习如何运用乐器来讲一个完整故事的过程。他与萨克斯风手Benny Golson共同带领一个爵士乐团 (1959-62年)。与吉他手Jim Hall 合作(1962-64年)，此时的表现更柔美。 1968年Art Farmer移居到欧洲，大部分的时间是留在维也纳。他也与他所组的乐团到欧洲各地以及日本、澳洲、美洲等地方做演出。1982年与萨克斯风手Benny Golson重组了The Jazztet乐团。1983年与萨克斯风手Chico Freeman合作演出。
by Scott Yanow
Largely overlooked during his formative years, Art Farmers consistently inventive playing was more greatly appreciated as he continued to develop. Along with Clark Terry, Farmer helped to popularize the flugelhorn among brass players. His lyricism gave his bop-oriented style its own personality. Farmer studied piano, violin and tuba before settling on trumpet. He worked in Los Angeles from 1945 on, performing regularly on Central Avenue and spending time in the bands of Johnny Otis, Jay McShann, Roy Porter, Benny Carter and Gerald Wilson among others; some of the groups also included his twin brother bassist Addison Farmer (1928-63). After playing with Wardell Gray (1951-52) and touring Europe with Lionel Hamptons big band (1953) Farmer moved to New York and worked with Gigi Gryce (1954-56), Horace Silvers Quintet (1956-58) and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1958-9). Farmer, who made many recordings in the latter half of the 1950s (including with Quincy Jones and George Russell and on some jam-session dates for Prestige) co-led the Jazztet with Benny Golson (1959-62) and then had a group with Jim Hall (1962-64). He moved to Vienna in 1968 where he joined the Austrian Radio Orchestra, worked with the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band and toured with his own units. Since the 1980s Farmer visited the U.S. more often and has remained greatly in demand up until his death on October 4, 1999. Farmer recorded many sessions as a leader through the years including for Prestige, Contemporary, United Artists, Argo, Mercury, Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, Soul Note, Optimism, Concord, Enja and Sweet Basil.