JENNIFER WHARTON is a low brass specialist based in New York City. Though getting her start classically, Jen has deep roots in jazz, commercial, chamber and Broadway music.

Jennifer leads the trombone-forward ensemble, Bonegasm, commissioning works from jazz heavyweights and newcomers. She has released 3 records in 6 years. Bonegasm’s third album, Grit & Grace (Sunnyside 2023), was awarded a Chamber Music America Grant and a Jazz Road Foundation Grant. Downbeat Magazine called the band “Trombone Ecstasy”.

Jen has held positions on Broadway at Sweeney Todd, Paradise Square, West Side Story, King Kong, Beautiful, Porgy and Bess, Jekyll and Hyde, Scandalous, Wonderland, 9 to 5 and Curtains, currently performing The Great Gatsby. She has won the Radio City Christmas Spectacular bass trombone chair six times.

In addition to being an in-demand freelancer, Jennifer is an active studio musician. She can be heard streaming on shows like Mrs. Maisel, Schmigadoon, Vivo, and Jerry Seinfeld at The Beacon. Commercials include The Incredibles 2, The Greatest Showman and more. She has also been on over 40 big band recordings since 2009.

She is a member of Grammy-nominated ensembles like Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Alan Ferber Big Band and the Terraza Big Band. She also performed on the Grammy-nominated cast albums for The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, 9 to 5 The Musical and Curtains The Musical as well as the Grammy-winning recording of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical.

Jen has performed, toured and/or recorded with groups including the New York City Ballet,  Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Birdland Big Band, Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, and Woody Herman Orchestra.

Jennifer is an XO Professional Brass artist and plays their 1240-LT bass trombone. She is on faculty at Rutgers and Montclair State Universities in New Jersey and gives clinics and masterclasses regularly throughout the United States.