Biography

The Capitol Bones’ inaugural performance was in a restaurant called Firenzi’s in Arlington, VA approximately 1990 or so not long after Matt Niess joined The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC in 1988. Their first big concert was at the International Trombone Festival at the Eastman School of Music in 1991 after winning the Kai Winding Competition sponsored by the International Trombone Association. The competition was the impetus that motivated Matt to forge the group into a trombone band like no other. This was followed by concerts at schools, concert halls, and festivals for the next 30 years. The current trombone section has been intact for well over ten years. The Capitol Bones use the Stan Kenton model, two bass trombones and three tenor trombones. The bass trombonists are the power and stability that the rest of the section locks onto and builds from. Jeff Cortazzo and Jerry Amoury are the bass trombonists and the tenors are Jay Gibble, Jim McFalls, and Matt Niess.