Primary Instrument: Trombone
Freelance Trombonist New Orleans La. 1984-Present - Featured performances with all walks of the local music life has proved Rick Trolsen to be versatile and at ease with contemporary and traditional jazz, blues, reggae, big bands, show music and club dates. Performances and/or recording with the following: The Woody Herman Band, Harry Connick Jr., The Temptations, Al Grey, Barry Manilow, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, The O'Jay's, Natalie Cole, Keely Smith, Dr.John, Clarence”Gatemouth” Brown, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Henry Mancini, Rosemary Clooney Earl King, Marva Wright, Allen Toussaint, Al Hirt, The Dukes of Dixieland, Black Top Records, Stan Musial, The Four Tops, Doc Severinsen, Johnny Cash, The Broadway show “Chicago”, The CAC Jazz Orchestra, directed by Ellis Marsalis, Johnny Adams, Eddie Louiss, as well as many gigs he'd rather not mention.
Staff Trombonist/Relief/Bandleader Delta Queen Steamboat Co. 1988-1996 Duties consisted of living and working aboard a Mississippi River Steamboat as the regular trombonist, arranger and relief bandleader. As of the fall of 2000, Rick has been working with Gatemouth Brown, The New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Al Belletto's Big Band, The Johnny Vidacovich Trio, The Tony Dagradi Quintet, Mark Mullin's “Bonerama”, Naked on the Floor, The Naked Orchestra, and The John Mahoney Big Band.
Largely self-taught, Rick began playing trombone at the age of twelve. After studying with Phil Wilson at Berklee College of Music, he volunteered three years of duty with the U.S. Navy Band, stationed in New Orleans. Upon his “discharge” he quickly fell into good company, and was adopted as a regular call sideman in town. In 1991 he started the jazz/rock group “Neslort” as a vehicle for his original compositions. A perennial favorite at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, “Neslort” has featured some of the finest musicians in town, and has recorded 2 CD's.
