Tom Brantley

Trombones ring loud and clear during this hybrid, live-studio date. Leading a large ensemble, top-flight bone-man Tom Brantley launches a vibrant modern mainstream gala, featuring originals and interesting spins on time-honored standards. Brantley’s corpulent tone and fluid attack combines hefty doses of improvisation with acute reinventions of a given melody line. Brantley executes sublime and mood-eliciting balladry. No doubt about it, Brantley has formulated a divergent set, complete with works that span various cadences and storylines. The strength of material and memorable arrangements translate into an endeavor that pronounces intelligence, wit, and plain old savvy, to complement the performers’ zealous soloing jaunts.

Trombonist Brantley shifts nimbly from an organ-fueled shuffle-blues version of Duke’s "In a Mellow Tone" to Saint-Saens’ classical "Adagio" delivered as a jazz ballad to a wacky rendition of Bird’s “Confirmation” done as a second-line groover. A Carl Fontana influence is apparent on his stunning duet with guitarist LaRue Nickelson on “Stardust.” He also engages Keith Oshiro in a spirited two-trombone romp through Randy Weston’s "Hi-Fly." Jerald Shynett offers some fine contrapuntal writing for five trombones on his lyrical “Exemption.”

The Brass Herald, the UK journal devoted to brass music, published a review of Boneyard (May 2009), as well as a feature article about Brantley (October 2009).

Brantley serves as Professor of Music at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is an occasional reviewer for many publications on topics of interest to trombonists and other brass musicians. Brantley performs on Yamaha trombones and has offered podcasts through the Yamaha Artists series. Brantley appeared as a featured artist on the 2009 Clearwater Jazz Holiday program. He has also served as a member of the faculty for the 2007 International Trombone Festival as well as the 2011 International Trombone Festival.

From the International Trombone Association Journal's review (October 2009, by Stan Pethel)

He joined the chamber ensemble Rhythm & Brass in 1995 and continues to tour and record with the group. He appears on many Rhythm & Brass recordings, including Ellington Explorations (1998), which upon release was named the New York Times Album of the Week, Sitting in An English Garden (2001), and Inside the Blue Suitcase (2005). He also records with the chamber group Confluences, and their self-titled debut CD appeared in 2004.

Tom Brantley (born 1970) is an American jazz trombonist.

Brantley was born in 1970 in Louisiana. He is a third-generation trombonist.