Bob Enevoldsen, 85; Jazz Trombonist Played With Big Bands
Bob Enevoldsen, 85, a West Coast musician best known for his exuberant jazz trombone playing, died Nov. 19 at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills.
In the 1950s, he worked with Shelly Manne at the famed Hermosa Beach jazz club the Lighthouse and performed with Bobby Troup’s trio and Terry Gibbs’ big band. He also played with Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Gerry Mulligan and other leading West Coast figures.
Most recently, Enevoldsen performed with the Bill Holman and Jack Sheldon big bands.
Born in Billings, Mont., the musician started playing violin at 5. His violinist father was a conductor at a silent movie theater.
After receiving his bachelor’s in music in 1942 from the University of Montana, Enevoldsen played in the Army Air Forces band during World War II. In 1946, he joined a big band in Salt Lake City as a tenor saxophonist and discovered the valve trombone.
He also became known for playing the bass.
Most of Enevoldsen’s income came from his work as a studio musician for television and film.
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