How one might musically perceive trumpeter Steve Lands primarily depends on where you caught him—at a live show, on a recording or even blowing his horn behind a gospel choir. The versatile musician, who's making his Satchmo SummerFest debut as a leader, doesn't play favs when it comes to styles.

“The truth for me is just about if I like the music,” says Lands, a Baton Rouge native—now New Orleans resident—whose listening pleasures might include tuning into Prince one day and maybe Bartok,...