Ed Byrne is an American jazz trombonist, composer, arranger, educator, and author known as both a Latin jazz pioneer and powerful trombone soloist. After years as a Berklee College jazz professor, where he taught Kenny Werner, Abe Laboriel and many of today’s other jazz masters, Ed moved to NYC where he has been performing and recording for decades with many of the world’s most critically-acclaimed jazz, Latin jazz, salsa, and soul artists, including Chet Baker, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Eddie Palmieri, The Fania All Stars, Buddy Rich, Manu Dibango, James Brown, Tito Puente, Archie Shepp, Maynard Ferguson—and scores of others.
Ed played trombone on Eddie Palmieri’s Grammy Award-winning Unfinished Masterpiece in 1974 and was later nominated Best Trombone Soloist by Latin New York. Ed’s composition, Fenway Funk, released on Paunetto’s Point, was nominated for a Grammy in 1976. Ed’s solo on There Will Be Another You on the Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker album Carnegie Hall Concert is considered one of jazz’s most swinging jazz trombone solos. Byrne earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music and authored the 17-book Linear Jazz Improvisation, one of today’s best-selling jazz method books.
In addition to extensive NYC studio work, Ed led many bands, including his Latin Jazz Evolution which was featured at jazz festivals following the release of Conquistador. Two Shades of Blue, Ed’s first album as leader, was recorded in NYC featuring guitarist John Abercrombie, pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Ron McClure, drummer Victor Lewis, Latin percussionist Milton Cardona, and Ed on trombone, as well as a live quartet performance at Skullers Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA featuring Ed, guitarist Mick Goodrick, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Bob Gulotti. Ed currently performs his compositions with his world-class quartet.
