James Edward Pugh (born November 12, 1950) is an American trombonist and composer. He was a trombonist with Woody Herman (1972–1976) and briefly with Chick Corea before concentrating on session work.
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Pugh was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, on November 12, 1950.[1] Pugh began playing the trombone around the age of ten.[1] He attended the Eastman School of Music from 1968 to 1972, where he played in an ensemble under Chuck Mangione.[1]
Pugh toured and recorded with the Woody Herman Band for four years from 1972,[1] and briefly performed with Chick Corea in 1977.[1] He then concentrated on studio session work for jazz and popular musicians.[1] In 1984, he was co-leader for the album The Pugh–Taylor Project.[1] He also composed for and played on the album X Over Trombone.[2]
Solo
- 1981: Crystal Eyes (Pewter)
- 1984: The Pugh /Taylor Project (DMP)
- 2001: Pugh Mosso
- 2002: E'nJ "Legend and Lion" with Eijiro Nakagawa Japanese release
- 2004: Echano
- 2004: E2'nJ2 (TNC)
- 2006: E'nJ Just Us
- 2007: X Over Trombone (Albany)
- 2007: Holly and the Ivy
- 2012: The Devil's Hopyard (Jazzmaniac)
- 2012: Pugh Taylor II (Pewter)
As sideman
- 1972: Giant Steps, Woody Herman
- 1973: Thundering Herd, Woody Herman
- 1976: The 40th Anniversary Concert, Woody Herman
- 1977: Musicmagic, Chick Corea and Return to Forever
- 1977: Return to Forever – Live, Chick Corea
- 1978: Secret Agent, Chick Corea
- 1979: In a Temple Garden (CTI, 1979) Yusef Lateef
- 1988: The Disney Album, Barbara Cook
- 1989: When Harry Met Sally..., Harry Connick, Jr.
- 1990: Big Boss Band, George Benson
- 1992: League of Their Own, James Taylor
- 1993: What Headphones?, André Previn
- 1994: Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool, David "Fathead" Newman
- 1994: Scampi Fritti, Marc Beacco
- 1995: Honey and Rue, with Kathleen Battle; St. Luke's Orchestra, André Previn, conductor
- 1995: Leave Your Mind Behind, With the Joe Roccisano Orchestra
- 1995: Rush Hour, with Joe Lovano; Gunther Schuller, conductor
- 1996: Two Lane Highways, Jay Leonhart and Friends
- 1999: Crossing the Bridge, Eileen Ivers
- 1999: Songs from the Last Century, George Michael
- 2000: Eight, Walter Blanton
- 2000: Two Against Nature, Steely Dan
- 2002: Looking for America, Carla Bley
- 2003: Alegría, Wayne Shorter
- 2003: Everything Must Go Steely Dan
- 2006: Morph the Cat, Donald Fagen
- 2007: This Meets That, John Scofield
- 1989–present Manhattan Jazz Orchestra
- 1998–present Super Trombone
- 2012: Sunken Condos, Donald Fagen
- 2020: Joy Road Volume 6, University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band
Broadway Recordings
Motion picture soundtracks (featured soloist)
Classical (not as soloist)
- Mass, Charles Wuorinen
- Ponder Nothing, The Chamber Music of Ben Johnston, Music Amici
- The Music of Irwin Bazelon
- Collage – New York Trombone Quartet
- Bright Sheng: Lacerations, 92nd St. Y Orchestra, Gerard Schwartz, conductor
- EOS Orchestra
- Concordia Orchestra
- The Silk Road Project with YoYo Ma
- The Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble Plays the Music of James Pugh and Daniel Schnyder, Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble
