Raphael Crawford

Trombone | Chicago, IL

Originally from Metro Detroit, Trombonist Raphael Crawford is a Chicago-based improvisor, session musician, composer and teacher with a professional career spanning more than two decades.  

Crawford’s performance credits are indicative of his versatility and varied musical interests, and include: Ramsey Lewis, Tom Jones, Gloria Estefan’s “On Your Feet,” The Who, Carl Allen, Incognito, Tito Nieves, Lalo Schifrin, Wycliffe Gordon, Umphrey’s McGee, Jon Faddis, Brenda K. Starr, Steve Turre, Chico Freeman, Johnny Rivera, Ira Sullivan, Wanda Jackson, Howard Levy, John Clayton, Rey Sepulveda, Bobby Broom, Choco Orta, Richie Cole and New Orleans Bounce MC Ricky B. Headline stage performance include the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, Chicago Jazz Fest, Ravinia, Pritzker Pavilion and Ryman Auditorium.  

As a member of LowDown Brass Band, Crawford recorded 6 CDs, toured the U.S. extensively and led numerous workshops - including a 2017 New Orleans JEN Conference masterclass. He has also co-led and composed for Afro-Latin ensemble “Orquesta Ranura” and the Acid Jazz/Neo-Soul collective “VertiKal.”  

Crawford has a diverse compositional output ranging from Jazz to Afro-Latin to Hip Hop.  Accolades include composition grants from the Kalamazoo and Illinois Arts Councils and various commissions. His song “Cold Shoulder” (recorded by Lowdown Brass Band) appeared in Showtime’s “The Chi,” and “Grind it Out,” (also recorded by Lowdown) was streamed regularly as part of Spotify’s “State of Jazz” playlist.  

A passion for teaching has led Crawford down a diverse pedagogical path, embracing the importance of mentorship and sharing the gift of music with students of various ages, backgrounds and aptitudes. He currently holds adjunct faculty positions at DePaul University (Applied Trombone, Jazz Combo) and Columbia College Chicago (Jazz Combo, Applied Trombone, Arranging and Orchestration, Top 40 ensembles, Theory and Ear Training).  

Crawford is a graduate of Western Michigan University (BM in Jazz Studies, Pi Kappa Lambda).