Apollo, Pennsylvania native Jeff Bush began studying music at the age of four and hasn’t stopped yet. He started with the banjo, followed with the piano and then discovered the trombone, which has become a lifelong pursuit. While a student at Youngstown State University, Jeff performed with The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and spent two summers touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. In his final year at YSU, he became linked to one of his musical heroes, receiving the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship. The award featured Jeff at the 1999 International Trombone Festival and allowed him to study in Berlin, Germany with acclaimed trombonist, Jiggs Whigham.

In 2000, Jeff joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra conducted by trombone legend Buddy Morrow, and toured with the TDO on and off over the next few years, playing many of the great Tommy Dorsey solos and fronting the band on occasion in Buddy’s absence. During this same time, Jeff moved to New York City to begin graduate work at The Manhattan School of Music, and to build a music career that continues to flourish today. He has been privileged to perform with numerous master jazz artists including Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Ahmad Jamal, Vanessa Rubin, Jimmy Heath, Hubert Laws, Kevin Mahogany, Cyrus Chestnut, Marlena Shaw and Anthony Braxton. Additionally, he has performed with some of the best big bands in jazz including The Count Basie Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabakin Big Band, RIAS Big Band of Berlin and The Bob Mintzer Big Band. 

Jeff joined the big band of superstar Harry Connick, Jr. in February 2007 and stayed with him through early 2009. During his tenure as lead trombonist, Jeff toured the world and made numerous network television appearances including special performances for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game and for Pope Benedict XVI.  With Harry, he also appeared on two recordings for Columbia Records.

In other musical genres, Jeff has performed or recorded with Christina Aguliera, Tom Waits, Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Caldwell, HBO's The Sopranos and The New York City Ballet. He has also performed on tenor trombone, bass trombone, and tuba in the pit orchestras of the New York City Broadway shows Wonderful Town, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Pajama Game, South Pacific and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. As a sideman, Jeff has appeared on over forty albums, recorded "jingles" for the TV show Jeopardy and Rice-A-Roni, and performed on the PBS Specials My Sinatra and We Knew What We Had. As a leader, Jeff made his recording debut on "Ain't So Bad To Swing" for Beezwax Records and is currently working on a live project as well as an album of all original material. 

Outside of the performing world, Jeff is very proud of his developments as an educator. He continues to work as a clinician and guest soloist with college and high school students and is a former faculty member at both Youngstown State University and West Virginia Wesleyan College. Jeff currently serves as Assistant Program Director of Jazz Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.

2024 brings Jeff’s career full circle as he assumes the Music Director position of The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Jeff is excited and humbled to be associated with the Tommy Dorsey legend and to lead one of the greatest big bands of all-time.