Ed Neumeister

A musician’s musician, trombonist Ed Neumeister has not only played with several of the great big bands in modern jazz—including those led by Ellington, Hampton, Mel Lewis, and Buddy Rich—but also has become a clear triple threat as player, composer, and arranger. During a five-decade career, he’s journeyed from the Bay Area to Europe to NYC and points between, but don’t call him a journeyman. As a bandleader and educator, the 68-year-old Neumeister may have gone under the jazz and mainstream press’ radar, but over the years he’s garnered the respect of his fellow players, including Joe Lovano, whose nonet Neumeister plays with. The trombonist’s latest album What Have I Done? features his compositions played by his regular quartet with Gary Versace, Drew Gress, and Tom Rainey. But the recording is just the latest in a long line of accomplishments that started in the 1960s.