Trained by the
Chicago Symphony trombonists, he is regarded as someone who pushes the limits of the instrument, including performing on
alto and
soprano trombone. He is a colleague of trombonist
George E. Lewis. Anderson also plays
sousaphone (marching tuba) and sings. He was frequently chosen in
DownBeat magazine's Critics Poll as best trombonist throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Anderson has worked with
David Murray,
Charlie Haden's
Liberation Music Orchestra,
Dr. John,
Luther Allison,
Bennie Wallace,
Gerry Hemingway,
Henry Threadgill,
John Scofield,
Roscoe Mitchell,
Randy Sandke's Inside Out Band,
Sam Rivers' Rivbea Orchestra,
Bobby Previte,
George Russell and others. Anderson is a member of
Jim Pugh's Super Trombone with
Dave Bargeron and Dave Taylor. He received a grant from the
National Endowment for the Arts for a series of solo trombone concerts. Anderson has frequently returned to his early love of
New Orleans music for inspiration. His Alligatory Band and Pocket Brass Band, featuring tuba player
Bob Stewart or sousaphonist Matt Perrine and trumpeter
Lew Soloff, are rooted in its tradition. Since 2003 he has taught and conducted at
Stony Brook University. ==Career==