Player Profiles
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Bob is a professional arranger as well as a great trombone player. Bob's father was a drummer, and this meant that Bob was aware of music - and jazz in particular - at an early age. His first paid work was when he was 10. At that time he played cornet and he also led his first band when at school From school Bob went into the army (the Coldstream Guards) and attended the Army Music School. He became principal trombone. He married in 1978, and came out of the army in 1985. He had played music all through his army career. His first job after the army was as an English teacher, for a couple of years prior to becoming a full-time musician and arranger.
Bob played with top bands such Sid Lawrence, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, and many others, before leading his own Ellington Orchestra. Bob had developed an interest in Ellington music at an early age, and met Duke at the Royal Festival Hall when he was still at school. He took his master's degree in music, based on arranging Ellington music. For Bob, arranging is still a driving passion.
