Ed Byrne

Trombonist Ed Byrne is an adept jazz improviser, composer, arranger, and educator. He emerged to acclaim out of the vibrant New York Latin jazz scene of the 1970s, playing on several Grammy-nominated projects with Eddie Palmieri and Bobby Paunetto before establishing himself as a leader with his own groups. Along with teaching at Berklee College of Music in Boston and authoring a jazz methodology series, he has released albums like 2000's Two Shades of Blue and 2012's Conquistador. Born in 1946 in Philadelphia, Byrne first gained recognition in the 1970s in New York playing with Latin jazz luminaries like Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon, Manu Dibango, and others. With Palmieri he played on the Grammy-winning 1974 album Unfinished Masterpiece. Two years later, he contributed to Bobby Paunetto's 1976's Grammy-nominated Paunetto's Point. Around the same time, he also played on the classic Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker reunion Carnegie Hall Cocnert album. Over the years, Byrne has played with a bevy of artists, including Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, James Brown, Tito Puente, and Archie Shepp, among many others. He has regularly led his own groups, releasing 2000's Two Shades of Blue, which featured two ensembles, the first with guitarist John Abercrombie, pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Ron McClure, drummer Victor Lewis, and percussionist Milton Cardona, and the second showcasing a live performance with his quartet with guitarist Mick Goodrick, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Bob Gulotti. Away from performing, Byrne attended Boston's the New England Conservatory of Music, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies. Along with teaching for many years at Berklee College, he wrote the 17-book Linear Jazz Improvisation methodology series. In 2012, he released Conquistador with his Latin Jazz Evolution band. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi