Jeff Cortazzo was appointed bass trombonist/tubist of The U.S. Army Blues in 1992. He is also currently bass trombonist in the National Philharmonic and bass/contrabass trombonist in the Capitol Bones, the Washington Trombone Ensemble, the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, and often performs with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks and National Gallery Orchestras.

Mr. Cortazzo holds a Bachelor's degree in music education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he graduated magna cum laude, and a Master of Music degree in bass trombone performance from DePaul University in Chicago, also graduating magna cum laude. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from The Catholic University of American in Washington, DC. As a published composer and member of ASCAP, many of his compositions, written for chamber groups to full orchestra and chorus, are available through BRS music publishers and have been performed in major concert halls in the United States, Europe, and China.

Mr. Cortazzo has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the National Sympnony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra. He has also performed as bass trombonist/tubist with Frank Sinatra, Jr., Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Yo Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman and countless others. His principal teachers include Charles Vernon and Lee Southall for trombone, and Larry Nelson, Steven Gorbos, and Andrew Earle Simpson for composition and counterpoint.