David Gibson

David Gibson is a New York-based trombonist, composer, and bandleader whose music balances post-bop rigor with emotional clarity. Influenced by J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, and Slide Hampton, he has performed with Roy Hargrove, Jon Faddis, James Moody, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and is a longtime member of Orrin Evans’s GRAMMY-nominated Captain Black Big Band. Raised in Yukon, Oklahoma, Gibson began composing and leading ensembles early, later earning a master’s degree in jazz composition from the Eastman School of Music. After moving to New York in 1999, he immersed himself in the scene, developing lasting collaborations through residencies and jam sessions across the city. As a leader, Gibson has built a distinct ensemble sound across releases including Maya, A Little Somethin’, and Inner Agent. His current group solidified during pandemic-era sessions in his Manhattan apartment and is documented on Fellowship (2024), produced by Orrin Evans. The band continues to perform in New York, with a follow-up album planned for 2026. “I don’t go to the bandstand because I’m so good,” Gibson says. “I go to the bandstand because the music is so good. And I want to be part of it.” David Gibson's next album Darkness Blooms will arrive in May 2026 on la reserve records.