Jules Rowell, a native of San Francisco Bay Area, started playing the violin in 1950s. Jules was encouraged by his music teacher to learn the valve trombone while in high school. He has continued playing it ever since. Jules holds a Master’s degree in music from San Francisco State University. He also studied for several years at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. His Master’s degree was specialized in Duke Ellington’s music. Jules has taken private lessons with Ned Meredith, Will Sudmeier, and Phil Wilson. Jules spent time touring the country and the globe with the Woody Herman Orchestra and Ray Charles Orchestras, both while they were still alive. He also performed with Azteca, a Latin rock band that he helped to make a documentary about Union Film. This was released in August 2008. Jules has performed with many artists, including Eddie Palmieri, Woody Shaw, Tom Harrell, Joel Dorham, Lenny White, Eddie Marshall, Art Lande, The Supremes, Bobby Vinton, Tony Bennett, Ed Kelly, Bert Wilson, Sonny Simmons, John Tchicai, Jack Walrath, and The Joe Henderson Memorial Orchestra, led by Warren Gale, Jr. Jules won the first and second place in the 1999 John Lennon Song Contest. He also composed and arranged material to be performed by Louie Romero, Masacote and Pete Escovedo. Jules was co-leader of the Kenny Dorham Project, along with Bill Belasco, percussionist and Valeriana Quevedo, singer. This project was dedicated to the vocal and compositional talents of Kenny Dorham, the legendary jazz trumpeter. from http://www.julesrowell.com
