Bob Mintzer
Robert Alan Mintzer
January 27, 1953
New Rochelle, New York, US
Musician, composer, arranger, band leader
Early life[edit]
Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953.[1] He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan from 1969 to 1970, then was at the Hartt School of Music, Hartford, Connecticut for two years, before attending the Manhattan School of Music from 1972 to 1974.[1]
Later life and career[edit]
Early in his career, Mintzer played in various big bands, including those led by Buddy Rich (1975–77), Thad Jones and Mel Lewis (1977–79), and Sam Jones (1978–80).[1] While with Rich, he began writing big band music, and has since composed and arranged hundreds of pieces.[1] In 2008, Mintzer and his family moved to Los Angeles, where he joined the faculty of the University of Southern California.[2]
He is a member of the Grammy award-winning Yellowjackets and holds the Buzz McCoy endowed chair of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.
In 2014, he agreed to become Chief Conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, sharing the job with Vince Mendoza.