Virginia Trombone Ensemble | Mr. Jefferson's Bones

Mr. Jefferson's Bones - Central Virginia's Premier Trombone Ensemble

MJB founding member Gary Elwell earned his bachelor of music education from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (now Shenandoah University). He served as a trombonist for 27 years in United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own), based in Washington, D.C. Gary has studied with John Marcellus and Jim Kraft of the National Symphony Orchestra, and jazz with Adolph Sandole. He has played in the Fairfax, Alexandria and Charlottesville Symphonies. Gary also teaches trombone at his home studio.

John Hollenbeck was active as a freelance trombonist in the greater Los Angeles area prior to moving to Virginia. In L.A. he served as Principal Trombonist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra under maestros Murry Sidlin and JoAnn Faletta. An active performer, he appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, Pacific Symphony, and Pasadena Symphony, as well as on numerous shows and recordings. Currently, John is principle trombonist with the Oregon Bach Festival under Helmuth Rilling, where he participated in a Grammy Award winning recording in 2000. He also plays English Baritone with the Massanutten Brass Band. John holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is on faculty in the College of Education at James Madison University.

Tom McKenzie received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Business Administration degrees from James Madison University. At JMU, he studied trombone with George West and jazz with George West, Gunnar Mossblad, and Pete Spaar. Currently, he freelances with a number of musical groups in the area, playing many different styles. Tom directs Just Jazzin’, a volunteer community big band based in Harrisonburg as well as the Jazz Band at JMU. In addition to an active music schedule, he is a self-employed computer programmer and takes on freelance writing and editing assignments from Prentice Hall.

MJB founding member Robert Mott holds a B.F.A. in graphic design from the University of Arizona where he attended for four years on a music scholarship. At Arizona, he studied with Tom Ervin and more recently with Jeff Cortazzo, bass trombonist with the U.S. Army Blues and Matthew Guilford, bass trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington D.C. Notable ensembles and performances include backing artists including Gladys Knight, The Temptations, and Sammy Davis, Jr., Charlottesville Symphony, Virginia Consort, and the All-American College Marching Band for the opening of Disney’s Epcot Center. Robert is also an active arranger, composer and a member of ASCAP.

Mr. Jefferson's Bones began in 2001 as an off-season weekly sectional rehearsal of the trombone section of the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) of Charlottesville, Virginia. CUSO's then Principal Trombonist, Robert Graham, aspired to build a low brass section that was highly sensitive to orchestral section playing and intonation.

Soon therefater, the group expanded its purpose to perform publicly by building up its repertoire of Christmas music, often playing in December to benefit the Salvation Army's kettle drives, Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies, and the residents of various Charlottesville nursing homes. In addition, MJB often performed for worship services and choir concerts at a number of area churches, and in 2003, collaborated with both Sojourners UCC and First United Methodist of Charlottesville to create an original worship musical entitled "God's Trombones: Jazz and the Gospel."

In 2006, Mr. Jefferson's Bones headlined an evening of Staunton's Jazz in the Park summer concert series with an expanded lineup including local jazz trombonists Andrew LaPrade and Mark Maynard, and a jazz rhythm section. MJB provided an exciting and eclectic evening of great jazz standards and newer compositions, including songs made popular by J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, The Capitol Bones, Them Bones, Tutti’s Trombones, and The Stan Kenton Orchestra. (View photos here.)

Founding members of Mr. Jefferson's Bones: Robert Mott, Natalie Collins, Robert Graham and Gary Elwell