Brent Wallarab
Trombonist, Composer, Arranger
Inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2017
Brent Wallarab
(December 21, 1963 – Present)
Composer/arranger and former trombonist Brent Wallarab is The David N. Baker Professor of Jazz Studies at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. Since 1994, Wallarab has co-led the acclaimed Indianapolis based Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. The BWJO performed every Tuesday night at Indianapolis' Jazz Kitchen for over 12 years and has presented over 1000 live performances in addition to having released 8 albums, one of which, Basically Baker, Vol. 1, The Music of David Baker, was recognized in 2011 by Downbeat Magazine as one of the 100 best jazz albums of the decade.
In 1991, Wallarab was appointed lead trombonist and principal arranger for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and was appointed Specialist in Jazz for the Smithsonian Institution in 1994, the first ever person to hold the title. With the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, as a sideman with other artists, and as a guest soloist/clinician, Wallarab has professionally toured nationally and internationally including all 50 states of the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
