Jacob Garchik, multi-instrumentalist and composer, was born in San Francisco and has lived in New York since 1994. At home in a wide variety of styles and musical roles, he is a vital part of the Downtown and Brooklyn scene, playing trombone in groups ranging from jazz to contemporary classical to Balkan brass bands. He has released 6 albums as a leader including “The Heavens: the Atheist Gospel Trombone Album”. He co-leads Brooklyn’s premiere Mexican brass band, Banda de los Muertos.

Since 2006 Jacob has contributed over 115 arrangements and transcriptions for Kronos Quartet of music from all over the world. His arrangements were featured on “Floodplain” (2009), “Rainbow” (2010), “A Thousand Thoughts” (2014), “Folk Songs” (2017), “Ladilikan” (2017), “Landfall” (2018), “Placeless” (2019) and “Long Time Passing” (2020). He composed the score for Kronos for the documentary “The Campaign” (2013).

In 2017 he composed the score for “The Green Fog” , a found-footage remake of Vertigo, directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, which Kronos performed live at the SF Film Festival premiere. In 2019 he composed “Storyteller” using the talking, singing, playing and compositions of Pete Seeger. He has created arrangements for Anne Sofie von Otter, Angelique Kidjo, Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, kd lang, Jolie Holland, Natalie Merchant, Tanya Tagaq, and Alim Qasimov. He teaches “Arranging Ensemble” at Mannes College in NYC.

As a trombonist Jacob has worked with many luminaries of jazz and the avant-garde, including Henry Threadgill, Steve Swallow, Laurie Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Joe Maneri, Frank London, John Hollenbeck, and George Lewis. He has also played in ensembles led by emerging artists Mary Halvorson, Dafnis Prieto, Anna Webber, Alan Ferber, Ethan Iverson, Darcy James Argue, Dan Weiss, Miguel Zenon, and Steve Lehman. In 2018 he won the “Rising Star – Trombone” category in the Downbeat Jazz Critic’s Poll.

Jacob also plays accordion, tenor horn, and tuba.