15 Facts About Luis Bonilla

Luis Diego Bonilla is an American jazz trombonist of Costa Rican descent.

Luis Bonilla was born and raised in Eagle Rock, California to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Costa Rica.

Luis Bonilla was introduced to music and jazz while attending Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles.

Luis Bonilla moved to New York City in 1989 in hope of playing with one of his musical heroes, drummer Art Blakey.

Luis Bonilla eventually landed with Lester Bowie as the group's trombonist and continues to draw inspiration from Bowie with whom he toured and recorded with extensively.

Luis Bonilla refers to Bowie as his "father away from home", with whom he has learned a great deal about music and the creative process.

Luis Bonilla has supported himself as a session musician and a sideman performing with McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Astrud Gilberto, Willie Colon, and Toshiko Akiyoshi.

Luis Bonilla has demonstrated his versatility as a musician working and recording with artists as varied as Tito Nieves, Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Alejandro Sanz, Diana Ross, Marc Anthony, La India, and Mary J Blige.

Luis Bonilla has been a member of the Mingus Big Band and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra; he has toured and recorded extensively with Dave Douglas.

Luis Bonilla served as main producer and trombonist in 2014 on the Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra CD which garnered international acclaim.

Luis Bonilla was named onto the 2011 JazzTimes critics poll for top trombone artists that year.

Luis Bonilla has taught at the Manhattan School of Music, Temple University, and the New England Conservatory.

Since 2013, Luis Bonilla has served as the musical director for the JM Jazz World International Youth Jazz Orchestra touring many parts of Europe.

Luis Bonilla has been a guest artist and clinician at numerous colleges and music schools in the United States and internationally to include the University of Memphis, University of Northern Iowa, Riverside City College, University of Wellington and many more.

Luis Bonilla has taught at the Universitat fur Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz, Austria.