Jimmy Cheatham

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Birth Date
Deceased Date
Job Title
Musician, Trombonist

Jimmy Cheatham was one of the coolest jazz cats in the industry. Having worked with many of the top jazz players such as Duke Ellington and Ornette Coleman, Jimmy brought the sounds of traditional jazz to film scores and television programs over several decades. Jimmy’s warm personality was only matched by the smooth sounds of his trombone. When teamed with his wife, the jazz and blues pianist Jeannie Cheatham, the tones were unmistakable, clear and often strikingly intimate. In recent years he was a proud professor at UC San Diego who gained the trust of his students and fostered their playing styles.