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I am heading to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the weekend, and did some very light “research” about famous jazz musicians who may have hailed from the nation’s 47th state.  The most notable is the great trumpeter Bobby Shew, whose impressive resume includes early career stints with Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, and Buddy Rich.

According to the New Mexico Music Commission website, in 1972, “Shew moved to Los Angeles…where he spent time with jazz legends Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Horace Silver Quintet, Louie Bellson, Ed Shaughnessy, Benny Goodman, Maynard Ferguson, Neal Hefti and others.”

Shew also recorded several albums as a leader, including Outstanding In His Field, which was nominated for a Grammy in 1980.  Another session he led, Heavy Company, was named Jazz Album of the Year in 1983.

Shew was also proficient as a studio musician, making a living working on TV shows, including  Hawaii 5-O, Streets Of San Francisco, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore,  Happy Days, and Laverne And Shirley.  He also worked on the soundtracks to, among others, Grease I and II, and Rocky I and II.

“In addition to a busy performing and private teaching schedule,” the Commission website reports,” today Bobby is actively involved in the educational system, conducting clinics and master classes at high schools and college campuses all over the world.”

Check out Bobby Shew playing with Louis Bellson’s band in 1980

Here is a more contemporary Bobby Shew performing “Red Snapper”