Rick Trolsen, Founder (trombone)
© 2009 Rick Olivier
Rick arrived in New Orleans in 1982, after attending Berklee College of Music. He quickly fell into good company and was adopted as the first-call sideman in town. From 1991 to 1998 he led the jazz/rock group “Neslort” as a vehicle for his original compositions. A perennial favorite for 3 consecutive years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Neslort has featured some of the finest musicians in town and has released 2 CDs.
In 2003, Rick traveled to Rio de Janeiro to record Gringo Do Choro, which features primarily Choro music from the early part of the 20th century. His group under the same name won the Offbeat Magazine’s 2010 Best of the Beat Awards for best “World/Reggae Band.”
It wasn’t until after Hurricane Katrina that he recorded the traditional music of New Orleans. In 2006 & 2007, he released New Orleans Lullaby and Sunrise on Bourbon Street. After a two-year stint (’07-’08) with the powerhouse group, Bonerama, Rick has returned once again to re-ignite his original group, Neslort. With a recording agreement with Threadhead Records, he has released the latest CD, Mystical Scam.
© 2009 Sue Poag
As a freelance trombonist, Rick has enjoyed featured performances with all walks of the local music life and has proved himself to be versatile and at ease with contemporary and traditional jazz, blues, reggae, big bands, show music and avante garde. Some of the notable artists he has performed and/or recorded with include Dr. John, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Joe Sample and the Crusaders, Gino Vannelli, The O’Jays, Slide Hampton, Al Hirt, The Dukes of Dixieland, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Henry Mancini, Rosemary Clooney, Bonerama, Stan Musial, The Woody Herman Band, The Temptations, Al Grey, Barry Manilow, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, The Four Tops, Doc Severinsen, Johnny Cash, Harry Connick Jr. and Natalie Cole.