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Bio
Trombonist, composer, arranger, producer and visionary Tyrone Jefferson makes emotion-filled music that tells vivid stories of his experiences, celebrates the fabric of African American-influenced performing arts and surges up from his soulful roots. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, he stands firmly behind his artistic mission: to promote the rich and diverse history of those in the African Diaspora through music, dance and the spoken word. Dexterous and inventive as a player and creator, his solid foundation in music theory and knack for the nuances of rhythm and melody shine through in his vibrant performances, arrangements and compositions. Inspired by classical music, jazz, the blues, gospel, soul, R&B, hip-hop and rap, his commitment to evolving his own sound and studying music as both a fine-tuned skill and a transcendent art form is illuminated by his bold resume of diverse, spirited projects: collaborations with powerhouse entertainers like James Brown, Public Enemy and L.L. Cool J as well as an energetic array of Gospel, African and jazz acts.
Growing up in the south, Jefferson was spellbound early on by the jazz greats. He first explored his own talents through the piano, but his passion for music was stirred when he discovered the melodious tones of the trombone in junior high. Learning to play the instrument amidst the vibrant musical climate of the ‘60s, he was quickly playing at a level beyond his years. Before high school, he was already leading his own R&B band comprised of a tuba player, three percussionists, a trumpet player, and a tenor saxophonist. All the while, he was experimenting with songwriting and arranging for a multitude of instruments.
In the late ‘70s, he served three years in the army in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he met renowned bebop saxophonist Norton “Pony” Poindexter and fell further in love with the sophisticated, hip harmonies of jazz. Poindexter invited him to play trombone during his Sunday sessions at a local club in Frankfurt, and Jefferson dove into the standards, learning the ins and outs of soloing and improvisation. His musical abilities shined as he found his true voice, he began to work with German bands across genres, arrange songs for a local R&B band and perform trombone at non-commissioned officers’ clubs.
When he came back to the States, Jefferson started “sittin’ in” on Saturday afternoon jazz sets at Damian’s in Augusta, GA and immersed himself in the local scene. In 1979, he jumped feet first into his lifelong dream of playing music professionally when, in the middle of the night, he was summoned by his friend, percussionist Johnny Griggs to go on tour with the music icon James Brown.
His lifelong quest to make music that opens the heart and mind and allows him to share his worldview has always driven his robust solo and ensemble career and allowed him to work with many legendary performers on groundbreaking projects. He has performed and recorded with musicians including James Brown, rap pioneers Public Enemy, hiphop artist L.L. Cool J and Gospel artist Heather Hedley and has performed in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, Morocco and the Caribbean, as well as at prominent venues such as the Apollo and Lincoln Center (NYC) and the Greek Theater and the Staples Center (LA). Jefferson holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural &Technical University, an M.S. in Management Information Systems from Pace University, New York and a Professional Certificate in Arranging and Composition from Berklee College of Music, where he studied with revered bandleader Herb Pomeroy. Jefferson was also part of master saxophonist Frank Foster’s jazz ensemble Living Color: 10 Shades of Black as well as master trombonist “Slide” Hampton’s World of Trombones jazz group.
Jefferson’s outstanding efforts as a music director, composer and arranger, has led him to spearhead projects at Lincoln Center in New York City, GAT3 Studios in Charlotte and to run workshops and master classes nationwide. His work as a trombonist, songwriter, and composer as well as his dedication to sustaining the richness of African American history and culture has led to profiles in Carib Magazine, Black Elegance, Sister-toSister, The Charlotte Magazine and Jet Magazine. Jefferson was one of six composers commissioned by Minister of Culture, Guadeloupe, French West Indies to collaboratively write “A Hymn for World Peace” in 1984. He is also featured in Amiri Baraka’s book Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music (2009).
Tyrone Jefferson is currently the Executive Director of A Sign of the Times of the Carolinas, a non-profit dedicated to improving the community through cultural productions and educational programs that positively reflect the heritage of African Americans and is the Music Director of the A Sign of the Times Bands. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Harvey B. Gantt Center Award – an award that recognizes leaders in their field and in 2016 received the prestigious Arts and Science Council Honors Award. (See http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article74655892.html) He and his wife are hosts of the weekly “Saturday Night R&B House Party” program on Gaston College radio (WSGE-FM) and are the producers of “The State of Black Music” TV show on Time Warner Cable public access TV-21 in Charlotte. Jefferson lives in Charlotte with his wife, Toni. He is currently working on several new projects, honing his musical craft and enjoying time with his three adult children and two grandchildren.