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Brent White

BRENT WHITE is well on his way to becoming a legend in his own right, having studied trombone with some of the best in jazz such as Slide Hampton and Al Grey and played with the likes of John Legend and Chubby Checker and receiving accolades from legendary jazz great Mickey Roker who says WHITE makes music that “feels good”. WHITE is able to accomplish this through original music composition and trombone playing that has yet to fail the listening ear in search of good music.

WHITE began playing the trombone in 6th grade. Not easily deterred, WHITE practiced and persisted, receiving his early training at the High School of Creative and Performing Arts and the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. After graduating high school, he continued his studies at Widener University in Electrical Engineering. Never a beat behind, he continued sharpening his skills under the tutelage of Rich Genovese (Philadelphia Orchestra) and upon receiving his Bachelor’s degree, entered the Masters program at the University of the Arts where he studied closely with John Fedchock, Clifford Adams (from Kool and the Gang) and the world-renowned Robin Eubanks.

WHITE’s creative range on the trombone once caught the eye of the lead vocalist of all-female quintet Zap Mama when she performed at the TLA in Philadelphia . She quickly sent her manager to ask that WHITE join them on stage for one of their selections. WHITE expected to give a humble solo and exit stage left, but suddenly found himself on stage for the entire finale by request of Zap Mama and amid cheers from the crowd.

WHITE has been catapulted into a myriad of special guest appearances and featured spots worldwide in locations such as Holland at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and in London on BBC radio with Roy Ayers or Indonesia with John Legend. His musical flexibility not only allowed him to travel far and wide, but also stretched his musical stylings from jazz to soul to hip-hop, touring Europe and South Africa with soul-singing duo Kindred, recording with the queen of soul Patti Labelle or her album Back to Now.

WHITE embraced the energy of these opportunities and took hold of many more, such as performing with the Orrin Evans lead Captain Black Big Band featuring Nicholas Payton and Conrad Herwig. WHITE regularly sat in sessions at popular Philly jazz spot; Ortleib’s playing with legendary jazz great Mickey Roker who frequently said to WHITE, “You got it!” That “it” he explains is “quality and good sound” that Roker says WHITE’s music effortlessly displays.

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Be Still

Blue Collar records
2023

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Color Theory

Posi-Tone Records
2017

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I-5

From: Be Still
By Brent White

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