Art Baron is a trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. His defining work was with Duke Ellington, with whom he toured and recorded from 1973 to 1974. He’s also worked with a host of luminaries, including Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, B.B. King, and Cab Calloway, and he toured with Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions Band on trombone, sousaphone, penny whistles, and mandolin. He has received several commissions, including one from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Art has been deeply involved with education and conducts workshop and clinics in preschools, universities, and every place in between. In addition, Art was featured nightly as a soloist in the Broadway hit “After Midnight,” where he brought his Ellington expertise to the production. Currently, he leads The Duke’s Men, an ensemble of Ellington alumni, and is a mainstay at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, with his group Art Baron & Friends.

The band includes Art Baron (bandleader & trombone), Steve Elson (reeds), David Phelps (guitars), Ben Stapp (tuba) and Alvester Garnett (drums). Art says: “The repertoire comes from all kinds of sources, including songs I’ve written while jogging (pay no attention to the fact that these tunes have gotten slower over the years)! The possibilities include rock, jazz, folky, ethnic, etc.  This group swallows them whole and creates a joyful musical gustatory experience!”