Robert Trowers (born 1957) is a jazz trombonist who has recorded two albums and performed with The Count Basie Orchestra, Randy Weston and George Gee.
Trowers was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957.[1] After early piano lessons he took up the trombone after listening to swing big bands.[1] His early influences included Lawrence Brown, Tricky Sam Nanton, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden, then the bebop trombonists, including J.J. Johnson, Jimmy Cleveland, Curtis Fuller, and Frank Rosolino.[1]
While at college, Trowers played professionally in the New York area, including with Jaki Byard's "Apollo Stompers" and the Ray Abrams / Hank Doughty Big Band.[1] He travelled to Europe as part of pianist Abdullah Ibrahim's band in 1979.[1] In 1982, Trowers joined Lionel Hampton's band, where he stayed for three and a half years.[1] This was followed by freelance work and teaching in New York, and another tour of Europe, this time with saxophonist Illinois Jacquet.[1] For the next eight years, he played with the Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Frank Foster.[1] During this period, Trowers recorded two albums as a leader – Synopsis (1983) and Point of View (1985) – both of which were released by Concord Records.[1][2]
"After the Basie years, Mr. Trowers toured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and later with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band under Jon Faddis."[1] Towers continued to freelance and play in big bands, and established a non-profit organization that promoted jazz in New York.[1] Trowers is a faculty member at North Carolina Central University.[1]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Synopsis, June 1992 (Concord)
- Point of View, August 24, 1994 (Concord)
As sideman
editWith George Gee
- Settin' the Pace (GJazz)[3]
References
editFurther reading
edit- Woodard, Josef (October 1992), "Record & CD Reviews – Live at El Morocco by the Count Basie Orchestra", Down Beat (Chicago); p. 36.