August 7, 1937 – November 8, 2024

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Trombonist George Bohanon passed away on Nov. 8, 2024 at the age of 87.

He was born on Aug. 7, 1937 in Detroit and began playing the trombone when he was eight.

Bohanon attended Wayne State University and the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts.

His main influence was J.J. Johnson and he mastered bebop.

Bohanon was the first call trombonist for the Motown label for seven years, performing on a countless number of recordings; he was also a member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet (sharing the frontline with Charles Lloyd) in 1962-63.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1968, Bohanon was active on the local jazz scene and also stayed very busy in the studios, performing with many different ensembles and orchestras.

Among his more significant recordings were sessions with Jimmy Witherspoon, Richard Boone, Joe Hutcherson, Charles Kynard, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Mitchell, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Tom Scott, Ernie Andrews, Dave Grusin, and Buddy Collette.

Bohanon, a longtime member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, also led four albums of his own: Boss – Bossa Nova (1962), Elation (1981), Tribute (mid-1980s), and Blue Phase (1990).

From 2014, George Bohanon is featured in a duet with pianist Theo Saunders on “I Thought About You.”

-Scott Yanow

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