Alex Iles

LA Trombonist, California Institute of the Arts, California State University, Northridge

Alex IlesAlex began his musical career while a student at UCLA, as a member of the Disneyland All American College Band. He has studied trombone privately with Roy Main, Ralph Sauer, Byron Peebles and Per Brevig. Since graduating from UCLA, he has gone on to enjoy his musical life as an in-demand trombonist/low brass performer.

Among the varied palette of artists with whom Alex has performed and/or recorded are: Joe Cocker, James Horner, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Jackson, The Tonight Show, Hans Zimmer, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Lalo Shiffrin, Natalie Cole, Danny Elfman, Ray Charles, Trevor Rabin, Harry Connick Jr., Robbie Williams,Henry Mancini, Terence Blanchard, John Williams, and Prince.

He has toured as lead and solo jazz trombonist with the Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson big bands. Today, he performs and records as a regular member of many of the top big bands and jazz groups in the L.A. area including Bob Florence's Limited Edition, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, The Tom Kubis Big Band. He has also recorded and performs with the The Bill Cunliffe Sextet and The David Roitstein Group.

He has performed on The Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, The People's Choice Awards and hundreds of television series and motion picture soundtracks including, "King Kong", "Firewall", "Ice Age", "The Incredibles", "Mr and Mrs. Smith", "Troy", "Robots", "The Last Samurai", "Pirates of the Carribean", "Planet of the Apes", "Blackhawk Down", "Spiderman I and II", "Dancing With the Stars", "Lost", "Commander-in-Chief", "Invasion", "JAG", "Alias", "Animaniacs", "Pinky and the Brain", and "Seinfeld". Alex may also be heard as trombone soloist on the motion picture soundtracks of "The Majestic", "Sin City", and "Rounders" as well as the television series, "Northern Exposure".

Alex has played in the pit orchestras of numerous Los Angeles productions of Broadway shows including: "The Lion King", "Phantom of the Opera", "Chicago", "West Side Story", "The Producers" and "Wicked".

In the summer of 2001, Alex was one of sixteen trombonists from an international field chosen to participate in a 10 day orchestral/solo seminar hosted by New York Philharmonic Principal trombone virtuoso, Joe Alessi.

And in October, 2002 Alex was appointed principal trombonist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as alto, tenor and bass trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The LA Chamber Orchestra, The Pasadena Symphony, The Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacifica and the Santa Barbara Symphony. He has also composed, commissioned and premiered several new works for solo trombone.

Alex is a trombone and jazz instructor at the California Institute of the Arts and California State University, Northridge. He has appeared as a recitalist, guest soloist, and clinician with schools and organizations throughout the United States, including Indiana University, Oklahoma State University, The University of Southern California, and is a regular clinician with the the Disney Magic Music Days Program.

Alex is a Conn/Selmer performing artist and plays King and Conn trombones.