Mariel Bildsten

"Mariel Bildsten is a New York City-based jazz trombonist described by DownBeat Magazine as “irrepressibly spontaneous.” She has earned international recognition through performances with Jon Batiste, Roy Hargrove, Jennifer Hudson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Clayton, Herlin Riley, Dick Oatts, and the Mingus Big Band. Her lyrical, swinging style has thrilled audiences at world-renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the Apollo Theater.

Mariel Bildsten’s band captivates its listeners by presenting a timeless style of jazz composition and improvisation. Through audience interaction and storytelling, Mariel and her band provide insights into this classic American music. Audiences are carried from past to present, rooted in the warm environment that she creates. Her band has performed to sold-out crowds around the world—from Jazz at Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic to the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Perth International Jazz Festival in Australia, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

She has released two critically acclaimed albums: Backbone (2020) and Steppin’ Out! (2023).

Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Bildsten earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. She studied under the tutelage of Reggie Workman, Vincent Gardner, Elliot Mason, Steve Turre, and Michael LeDonne."