Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Gabriel began his professional playing career at the age of thirteen. By the time he graduated high school he was already fast-tracking his way to a career playing the trumpet‚ studying privately with jazz masters Bobby Shew, Roger Ingram, and Greg Gisbert. It wasn’t long before Gabriel began performing with the big acts: Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, The Temptations, Terence Blanchard, Lettuce, Karl Denson, John Scofield, Hugh Jackman, Lonnie Smith, Russell Malone, The Who, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Roberta Gambarini, the Motet, and Houston Person. Gabriel has deeply rooted himself in the traditions of Jazz and Classical music while at the same time contributing to the modern music scene, playing everything from Mariachi to Mahler.