Faculty Profile for Randy Zimmerman

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Randy Zimmerman joins the music faculty of Texas State University as the
Jazz and Latin Trombone Instructor. While earning a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz studies at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), he toured the midwest with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and Portugal and the Soviet
Union with the 1:00 Lab Band. Upon graduation, he embarked upon a performance
career in New York City working with the Larry Elgart Orchestra, and the Tito Puente Orchestra, before moving to West Germany to tour with the Klaus Lenz Jazz-Rock Machine. In 1980, Mr. Zimmerman returned to his native Texas, where he has since been a free-lance trombonist in the Austin/San Antonio region. He has been a member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet since 1991, a regular composer for the Creative Opportunity Orchestra for 20 years, and a member of the James Polk sextet, Centerpeace, since 2010.

In the world of latin music, Mr. Zimmerman has been a highly sought-after trombonist and arranger for 35 years, having performed with “El Cano” Estremera, Tito Allen, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Paquito Guzman, Lago Rodriguez, Eddie Santiago, Chamaco Rivera, La India, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. His arrangements and compositions have been recorded by his latin-jazz and salsa group, Jazz PR, on the recordings Changüiri (1991), La Brisa Del Sur (1996), Willy Santiago con Jazz PR - Regreso A Borinquen (2001), and Homenaje Al Cantante De Los Cantantes (2016), all on his record label, Arzee Reckerds. While co-producing the third recording in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mr. Zimmerman was the featured guest soloist with the Tony Vega Orchestra in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

In 2006, Mr. Zimmerman earned a Master of Music Degree in Trombone
Performance-Jazz Emphasis from The University of Texas at Austin. He has over 40 years of experience teaching trombone in public schools in the Austin/San Antonio area and was the trombone instructor at Temple College from 2013-2022 and
Texas A&M-Central Texas from 2019-2022. Mr. Zimmerman currently teaches Jazz and Latin Trombone at Texas State University.

Teaching Interests

I currently teach over thirty private low brass students in the Austin public schools every week. I had been teaching trombone and directing student jazz ensembles at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, but now have transferred that experience to Texas State University.

Research Interests

I have produced four compact disc recordings of latin jazz and Puerto Rican style salsa music. I am now exploring Brazilian music and writing arrangements for performances that I produce.