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Clifton Anderson

Trombonist - Composer - Producer

About Me

Clifton Anderson was born on October 5, 1957 in Harlem, New York City. He grew up surrounded by music. His father was a church organist /choir director, and his mother a singer and pianist. It was no surprise that Clifton exhibited an affinity for music at an early age. When he was just seven years old he got his first trombone, a gift from his uncle Sonny Rollins. Clifton attended the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art. In 1974 he spent one year at The State University of New York at Stony Brook studying under Simon Karasick and Dave Schechter. He continued his education at The Manhattan School of Music, and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Music degree. At The Manhattan School, he studied under the Metropolitan Opera trombonist John Clark. There he also met and befriended talented musicians like Angela Bofill and the late Kenny Kirkland. While at Manhattan School of Music, Clifton began freelancing around New York City and made his first record date with Carlos Garnett in 1976. By his senior year at Manhattan he had established himself as one of the young “in demand” trombonists in New York. It was around that time that Slide Hampton formed the original “World of Trombones”, the group that would become the standard by which all jazz trombone choirs are measured. The group included Janice Robinson, Steve Turre, Earl McIntyre, Clifford Adams, Doug Purviance, Papo Vazquez, and Clifton Anderson along with appearances from the great Curtis Fuller, and the late great Britt Woodman and Benny Powell. Later additions to the prestigious trombone choir included Robin Eubanks, Clarence Banks, Frank Lacy, Conrad Herwig, and Bob Trowers.

Clifton’s career reflects work with a “who’s who” of diverse musical giants from: Frank Foster, McCoy Tyner, Clifford Jordan, Stevie Wonder, Dizzy Gillespie, Merv Griffin and The Mighty Sparrow to Lester Bowie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paul Simon, Terumasa Hino, Muhal Richard Abrams, WyClef Jean, Geri Allen, Charlie Haden, Slide Hampton, James Jabbo Ware and Wallace Roney among a host of others. Clifton’s credits also include work on the Broadway shows Dreamgirls and Nine.

Clifton joined Sonny Rollins’ group in 1983 and was a featured soloist, touring worldwide and recording ten releases with him until 2009. During that tenure, in 1997 Clifton released his first recording as a leader/producer on the Milestone label entitled Landmarks. Landmarks received critical acclaim internationally and made the top ten play lists on US Jazz radio coast to coast. Also during that tenure from 1999 to 2001 Clifton was an “Artist In Residence” at Duke University. There he taught trombone, conducted trombone choir, sectional workshops and coached the Jazz Band. Clifton has produced four releases for Sonny Rollins’ label Doxy Records: Sonny, Please, the DVD Sonny Rollins in Vienne, Road Shows Vol. 1, and Clifton’s own Decade. Clifton received a nomination for 2009 “Trombonist Of The Year” from The American Jazz Journalists Association. Stellar reviews of Clifton’s live performances along with the critical acclaim for Decade prompted Clifton to lead his own group full time. Clifton headed back into the studio in September 2011 to record and produce his third release as a leader, and so we carry on. The session combined his powerful working quintet with a stellar lineup of guest artists. Pianist Monty Alexander, soprano saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Bob Cranshaw, trumpeter Wallace Roney, percussionists Kimati Dinizulu and Victor See Yuen, and drummers Steve Jordan and Jeff “Tain” Watts – blended seamlessly with Clifton’s working band, tenor saxophonist Eric Wyatt, pianist Donald Vega, bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Steve Williams, to create a musical blueprint for hope, renewal and carrying on. “With people increasingly faced with turmoil, uncertainty and crisis, I wanted to create music that uplifts the listener and offers a sense of hope to prevail” - Clifton Anderson

“Trombonist Clifton Anderson gives US the soul, substance and spirit to carry on. Listen closely, this music will move you through the days ahead in spite of ....” - Gary Walker, WBGO Radio

and so we carry on was released September 25th 2012 on Daywood Drive Records with worldwide distribution by BFM Digital. The highly anticipated recording immediately created a buzz among musicians. Embraced by critics, the public and radio, and so we carry on reached #4 on national jazz radio in the US and remained in the top 20 for several months. It was picked as “One of The Top CD Releases of 2012” by Jazz Inside Magazine and called “A Modern Jazz Essential” by Eric Harabadian. Clifton is currently performing with his quintet in support of and so we carry on to very enthusiastic and appreciative audiences.