Geoff Alpert was born in North Hollywood, California, on July 10, 1955. His family moved to San Diego when he was 2 years old. Annette Alpert, his mother, was a talented musician, having played accordion and clarinet. The house had a piano, and his three sisters and two brothers all played musical instruments (none professionally). Geoff started playing the trumpet at age 7. After visiting his grandfather, who had an extensive collection of instruments, Geoff gravitated towards the E Flat Euphonium and then, in 7th grade, to the baritone. Geoff was in high school when Chicago’s “25 or 6to 4” and “Beginnings” radio stations featured glissandos by trombonist James Pankow and solos. Geoff was inspired by jazz legends to switch to the trombone, which he also learned from himself. Geoff, a student at Hoover High School used the money he had saved through a paper route to purchase an intermediate Conn large bore trombone with an “F” attachment. Geoff wanted the horn to have the most resonant tones, as a result of his inspiration from J.J. Johnson. Geoff avoided sports and embraced total absorption mode. He was immersed in listening, studying and intense practice. Geoff was frequently selected for and featured soloist in city-wide honors jazz bands. He began to perfect his pop performance skills in groups of peers who played after proms and with older cats performing covers of Blood Sweat.
