Known for his soulful tone; trombonist, baritone player, composer, and arranger Andrae Murchison is a native of Savannah, Georgia., where he first discovered music at church with his grandparents and mother. He composes and plays music from his heart and soul, and remains faithful and true to his spiritual foundation. He documents time through prayer, testimony, and revelation while conversing with the elders and honoring the ancestors. Focusing on delivering a message of grace and truth, his music navigates through the roots of negro spirituals, the body and soul of rhythm and blues, and the mindset of jazz improvisation, harmony, and rhythm. He earned his academia degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (BA), and Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music (MM) where he was mentored by Steve Turre and Robin Eubanks.
After completing his formal studies, he began touring the world intensively while serving as trombonist with The Skatalites, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya, and The Duke Ellington Orchestra for over a decade. He has also worked with Roy Hargrove, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, The Trombone Summit with Slide Hampton and Curtis Fuller, Clark Terry, Ravi Coltrane, Monty Alexander, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jason Mraz, Postmodern Jukebox and many more.
While maintaining a successful career as a freelance musician, he also leads his own ensemble called Murch Church, which has produced six studio recordings that feature friends and family (Gregory Porter, Sharp Radway, Corcoran Holt, Jerome Jennings, Emanuel Harrold, Zem Audu, Freddie Hendrix, Keyon Harrold, McClenty Hunter, Jonathan Blake, Mazz Swift, Belden Bullock, Walter Parks, Parker McAllister, Brian Cockerham, Stantawn Kendrick, Jay Gandhi, TW Sample, Brian Williams, LeShawn Thomas, Kevin Smith, Henry Connerway, and daughter Savannah Grace). Andrae Murchison cultivates a mission for soul salvation, while sharing the blessing of music to heal the land and uplift the nation.
