Callum Au

Callum Au is a professional trombonist, composer, orchestrator, and arranger. A member of NYJO from 2005, he held the lead trombone chair with the band from 2008 – 2011, and contributed over 50 charts to the band’s library. He was taught by ex-Syd Lawrence trumpet player Terry Reaney, and has since studied with world-famous jazz trombonists Mark Nightingale and Gordon Campbell.

As a trombonist, Callum has worked with many of the UK’s top professional commercial bands, including the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Laurence Cottle Big Band, and musicians as diverse as Joss Stone, Peter Erskine, Guy Barker, Nigel Hitchcock, Liane Carroll, Seth MacFarlane, and Tim Minchin. He is the manager and musical director of the acclaimed Callum Au Big Band, which features some of the finest up-and-coming jazz musicians in the UK. As well as tenor trombone, he also plays bass trombone, euphonium, and tuba. He has recently released his debut album, ‘Something’s Coming’, with his big band, featuring special guests Nigel Hitchcock, Gareth Lockrane, Emma Smith, and Iain Mackenzie.

As a composer and arranger, Callum has written or arranged music for, among others, the BBC Big Band,  Jamie Cullum, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Skelton Skinner All Stars, and the Swingle Singers. With the Callum Au Big Band, he plays many of his own compositions and arrangements.

Callum’s biggest influences as a trombonist are Mark Nightingale, Carl Fontana, and Andy Martin, as well as saxophonists Nigel Hitchcock and Michael Brecker, and as a writer Nelson Riddle, Jaco Pastorius, Bill Holman, Laurence Cottle, Neal Hefti, Bob Brookmeyer, and Thad Jones.
Please click here for a full CV.

Selected Performance Credits:

Anthony Strong, Alexander Stewart, Back To Basie, Buddy Greco, Callum Au Big Band, Crocodile, Dave O’Higgins Big Band, Daniel Houghton Big Band, Don Weller Big Band, Dov Amiel Band, Echoes of Ellington, Gareth Lockrane Big Band, Guy Barker Orchestra, Henry Armburg Jennings Big Band, Jay Craig Orchestra, Jay Phelps Big Band, James Tormé, John Dankworth, Joss Stone, Julia Boutros, London Jazz Orchestra, Mark Nightingale, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Nigel Hitchcock, North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, Seth MacFarlane, Singin’ In The Rain, Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The Rat Pack! Live, Vienne Jazz Festival

Selected Writing/Arranging Credits:

Anthony Strong, Arendal Big Band, BBC Big Band, Callum Au Big Band, Daniel Houghton Big Band, Georgina Jackson, Gordon Campbell Big Band, Henry Armburg Jennings Big Band, Huntington Symphony Orchestra, Iain Mackenzie, Jamie Cullum, Jay Craig Orchestra, Jay Phelps Big Band, Louis Dowdeswell, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Oxford University Big Band (featuring Mornington Lockett), Rebecca Poole, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, Royal College of Music Big Band, RTE Concert Orchestra , SilvaScreen, Skelton Skinner All Stars, Tempest Flute Trio , The Harmonics, The Swingle Singers, The Oxford Gargoyles

Selected Recording Credits:

The Callum Au Big Band: ‘Something’s Coming’ (Chairman Records) (Arranger, Composer, Tenor Trombone, Euphonium, Bandleader)
The Reuben Fowler Big Band: Upcoming Album (Edition Records) (Bass Trombone)
The Dave O’Higgins/Pete Wraight ‘Two Minds’ Big Band (Tenor Trombone)
Anthony Strong: ‘Stepping Out’ (Naive) (Arranger)
National Youth Jazz Orchestra: The Change (NYJO) (Arranger)
The Big Colours Big Band: Big Colours! (33Jazz) (Tenor Trombone)