James Edward Pugh (born November 12, 1950) is an American trombonist and composer. He was a trombonist with Woody Herman (1972–1976) and briefly with Chick Corea before concentrating on session work.
Early life Pugh was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1950. Pugh began playing the trombone around the age of ten. He attended the Eastman School of Music from 1968 to 1972, where he played in an ensemble under Chuck Mangione.
Later life and career Pugh toured and recorded with the Woody Herman Band for four years from 1972, and briefly performed with Chick Corea in 1977. He then concentrated on studio session work for jazz and popular musicians. In 1984, he was co-leader for the album The Pugh–Taylor Project. He also composed for and played on the album X Over Trombone.
Discography As Leader
1981: Crystal Eyes (Pewter) 1984: The Pugh /Taylor Project (DMP) 2001: Pugh Mosso 2002: E'nJ "Legend and Lion" with Eijiro Nakagawa Japanese release 2004: Echano 2004: E2'nJ2 (TNC) 2006: E'nJ Just Us 2007: X Over Trombone (Albany) 2007: Holly and the Ivy 2012: The Devil's Hopyard (Jazzmaniac) 2012: Pugh Taylor II (Pewter)
As sideman 1972: Giant Steps, Woody Herman 1973: Thundering Herd, Woody Herman 1976: The 40th Anniversary Concert, Woody Herman 1977: Musicmagic, Chick Corea and Return to Forever 1977: Return to Forever – Live, Chick Corea 1978: Secret Agent, Chick Corea 1979: In a Temple Garden (CTI, 1979) Yusef Lateef 1988: The Disney Album, Barbara Cook 1989: When Harry Met Sally..., Harry Connick, Jr. 1990: Big Boss Band, George Benson 1992: League of Their Own, James Taylor 1993: What Headphones?, André Previn 1994: Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool, David "Fathead" Newman 1994: Scampi Fritti, Marc Beacco 1995: Honey and Rue, with Kathleen Battle; St. Luke's Orchestra, André Previn, conductor 1995: Leave Your Mind Behind, With the Joe Roccisano Orchestra 1995: Rush Hour, with Joe Lovano; Gunther Schuller, conductor 1996: Two Lane Highways, Jay Leonhart and Friends 1999: Crossing the Bridge, Eileen Ivers 1999: Songs from the Last Century, George Michael 2000: Eight, Walter Blanton 2000: Two Against Nature, Steely Dan 2002: Looking for America, Carla Bley 2003: Alegría, Wayne Shorter 2003: Everything Must Go Steely Dan 2006: Morph the Cat, Donald Fagen 2007: This Meets That, John Scofield 1989–present Manhattan Jazz Orchestra 1998–present Super Trombone 2012: Sunken Condos, Donald Fagen 2020: Joy Road Volume 6, University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band
Broadway Recordings 1979 Sweeney Todd 1992 City of Angels 1995 Will Rogers' Follies 1998 Victor/Victoria 2000 Fosse
Motion picture soundtracks (featured soloist) League Of Their Own Meet Joe Black The Birdcage Brighton Beach Memoirs Shining Through Biloxi Blues
Classical (not as soloist) Mass, Charles Wuorinen Ponder Nothing, The Chamber Music of Ben Johnston, Music Amici The Music of Irwin Bazelon Collage – New York Trombone Quartet Bright Sheng: Lacerations, 92nd St. Y Orchestra, Gerard Schwartz, conductor EOS Orchestra Concordia Orchestra The Silk Road Project with YoYo Ma The Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble Plays the Music of James Pugh and Daniel Schnyder, Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble
References
External links Jim Pugh at Trombone Page of the World NPR's Top 10 Classical Albums of 2008