Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

Bruce Fowler

Bruce Lambourne Fowler is an American trombonist and composer. He is known for his work on numerous recordings by Frank Zappa, as well as performances with Captain Beefheart and the Fowler Brothers Band. In addition to his performing career, Fowler has composed, arranged, and conducted music for film, contributing to a wide range of popular movies.

Last revised
Jun 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
608 w
Citations
1
Source
Bruce Fowler
Born
Bruce Lambourne Fowler

(1947-07-10) July 10, 1947
GenresRock, jazz, classical, experimental
OccupationsMusician, composer, conductor
InstrumentTrombone
Years active1973–present

Bruce Lambourne Fowler (born July 10, 1947)1 is an American trombonist and composer. He is known for his work on numerous recordings by Frank Zappa, as well as performances with Captain Beefheart and the Fowler Brothers Band. In addition to his performing career, Fowler has composed, arranged, and conducted music for film, contributing to a wide range of popular movies.

Bruce Fowler is the son of jazz educator Dr. William L. Fowler and Beatrice Fowler. He is one of five brothers, all musicians: Walt Fowler, a multi-instrumentalist; Steve Fowler, a flutist, saxophonist and composer (deceased), Tom Fowler, a bassist; and Ed Fowler, a multi-instrumentalist and composer.

Fowler has performed with the Band from Utopia, the Mar Vista Philharmonic, and Strange News from Mars, a project led by Norwegian musician Jon Larsen that features former Zappa collaborators Tommy Mars and Arthur Barrow. He also recorded albums as a member of Air Pocket, a jazz fusion band that included all five Fowler brothers.

Fowler is the recipient of the 2007 Film & TV Music Awards for Best Score Conductor and Best Orchestrator.

Discography

With Frank Zappa/The Mothers of Invention

With Air Pocket/The Fowler Brothers

  • 1976: Fly On (East Wind)
  • 1985: Hunter
  • 1988: Breakfast for Dinosaurs

With Captain Beefheart

With The Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band

Solo works

  • Ants Can Count – 1990
  • Entropy – 1993
  • Synthetic Division (with Phil Teele) – 1994
  • The Good Shepherd Soundtrack (with Marcelo Zarvos – 2006
  • Inception – 2010

With Oingo Boingo

With Randy Newman

  • Bad Love – 1999
  • Harps & Angels – 2008

With other artists

References

References

  1. "Bruce Fowler". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
External links