Bill Ohashi

Bill Ohashi's is a prolific and well-heeled trombonist from New York City with extensive experience with international jazz, Latin, R & B, rock, blues, as well as, chamber classical. Bill's arranging style and watchful direction give 'The Bridge Sextet and the new "Mambo Jazzi" their characteristic sound, all of which stems from Bill's many influences from his years of associations with such important groups.

Bill’s early experiences included working with Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Machito, and great jazz & pop leaders such as Slide Hampton, Bruce Fowler (Frank Zappa), Ray Charle's Big Band, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Mingus, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eddie Kendricks & The Temptations, Gil Evans, Franki Valli & The Four Seasons.

Bill's versatility stems from exposure to exceptional, broad-based music taught at Julliard, Mannes College, U. of PA, Berkley School of Music, and bandstands in NYC, New England and the southern corridor. This in turn, gave Bill opportunities to teach at NYC’s Third St. Music School, Henry St. Settlement, Boy’s Harbor, New England Conservatory, Metropolitan School of Music and others.

In formative years, Bill was making jam sessions in NYC with such well-known jazz-legends as Kenny Dorham (Minton's & NYU), Roy Eldridge (Small's Paradise, Bowman's Showplace), Charlie Mingus (East Village Inn, Jazz Loft), Jack DeJohnette / Joe Henderson (The Dom), Jaki Bayard (The Electric Circus), Carla Bley ('Upsurge' & 'Blue Wave Studio), George Cables / Lenny White / Billie Cobham (Slug's) and Art Blakey's Messengers (All Over).

After educating himself and paying his dues in road bands, Bill still retained a burning desire to play on the NY scene as a professional. He found himself getting steady salaries mainly from more commercial pop bands; Bill contracted with backing orchestras for popular artists such as Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Jay & the Americans, The O’Jays & Stevie Wonder; helping contract and play at Rock-galas at Madison Square Garden-NYC; an occasional Broadway Show ('Man of La Mancha', the Wiz, Starlight Express, Ain't Misbehavin'); or steady, good-paying Latin-Salsa Orchestras like Hector Lavoe, Larry Harlow or 'Chocolate' & Celia Cruz, keeping Bill Ohashi real busy for twenty years or so.

His experience in clubs, concerts, recordings and traveling began to expand Bill's creative arranging and improvisational skills as the assignments became more plentiful and challenging; These included Gil Evans, Chuck Israels, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, The Band, Yoko Ono, James Taylor, Chico O'Farril, Joe Farrel/Elvin Jones & subs on "Saturday Nite 'Live'', to name a few.

After a brief to move to the west coast and a short hiatus from playing, the legendary Ray Charles wisely gave Bill the opportunity to join his band on the road for about a year, bringing Bill back into the working music scene; Bill subsequently toured Europe three times with Lionel Hampton, playing around NYC and began his own record label, EAR Records, Inc. Show less