BIOGRAPHY

​Luis is a 29 year-old, Mexican-American professional trombonist based out of Orange County, California. Having started on piano at age 6 and continuing into trombone at 8 years old, Luis continued to develop his technical and aural musical skill throughout his public education. Luis received his Bachelor's of Music Education (Instrumental)  at California State University Long Beach in 2018, and received his Single Subject Credential in Music Education in 2021. Luis also works as the Director of Instrumental Music at Ganesha High School in Pomona, continuing to develop his mastery of trombone through further education and continuing his career as a professional performing musician.

Luis is a freelance musician, gigging around Southern California in a variety of different ensembles in both local and large shows. Luis has performed throughout the United States, including Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco,  New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Arizona, Colorado, Washington D. C., Portland, and more. Luis also has begun touring internationally, having traveled and performed in Japan the Summer of 2025, and will be touring in Canada in 2026.. A classically trained trombonist in the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music from California State University Long Beach, Luis Gracia Alonso is also no stranger to performing within the commercial music industry including genres as: jazz, funk, hip-hop, chamber ensemble, reggae, ska, rock, pop, soul, punk, cumbia, salsa, banda, and more. While mainly a trombonist, Luis doubles on bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, trumpet, French horn, piano/keys, voice, and accordion.

Luis is a frequent performer in different local and touring music acts. 

As of 2025, Luis is making a name for himself as a trombonist within the modern ska scene, as both a hire-on as well as a main member for a few bands. Some of the iconic bands Luis has been asked to guest with include the legacy bands We Are the Union at Punk in the Park, Mustard Plug, and with Scott Klopfenstein of Reel Big Fish acclaim in his personal music project, The Littlest Man Band. While a freelancer grateful to have the opportunities to perform with acts of such reputable acclaim, Luis finds great personal fulfillment and joy being a part of bands with which he is a member. 

 

 Luis is the current trombonist with Half Past Two, a ska band that has found recent success with their latest album "Talk is Killing Me"  now a part of Bad Time Records. Half Past Two has performed at large festivals and shows in California and has toured nationally along the East Coast, the Southwest, the Midwest, and the PNW. Sharing show lineups with legacy ska bands as well as up-and-coming fresh talent, Luis' energy and quirky personality allow for shows to feel exciting without feeling too distant. Through performing with Half Past Two, Luis has become more integrated with the greater ska community in both the United States and internationally. 

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Luis is a fundamental member of the modern iteration of the The Ruffolos, performing trombone in conjunction with the other Brass Boys. The Brass Boys have been performing with The Ruffolos since 2021, garnering the attention of local ska media outlets including renowned ska radio show Ska Parade (hosted by Tazy Phyllipz), SoCal ska talk show "On the Upbeat Podcast," and being featured by Ska Punk Daily. In collaboration with The Ruffolos on their recent album Immersing in the Aftertaste of Special Yesterday, the Boys' tight horn lines on tracks such as Special Yesterday and Lost Coast City were acknowledged to be entertaining, quote: "I can tell with the horn line that's the thing you'll be singing" That's the sign of a good ska song" ("On the Upbeat" Podcast). The Ruffolos have opened for legendary ska acts such as Save Ferris, Five Iron Frenzy, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Mustard Plug and are set to continue their ascent within the ska and reggae music scenes. A true hallmark of DIY within their independent record label, Marrano Beach Records, The Ruffolos are set on a path of greatness that is a must-watch!

Luis has been with Not a Chance, a Southern California Ska Punk band for the past nearly a decade, who plans on releasing new music to reestablish their presence in the local ska-hardcore scene that has had a major presence in Southern California over the past few years, with which Luis credits and loves as his humble entry into the ska scene. 

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Luis performs frequently with a nonprofit orchestra Synesthesia Sinfonietta, who's mission statement is to bring professional orchestral music to educate the general public. Luis enjoys the opportunities to perform orchestral works including Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet, and more!  ​

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Luis has performed with International acts including Polish hip-hop artist L.U.C. and Rebel Babel during their world tour, with one of two shows in the United States being in Los Angeles. Luis was hired as part of their hired American orchestra, featuring selections of music that combined Polish hip-hop with Polish film music, and the full ensemble performed at the LIVE HOUSE in Hollywood, California.  Luis performed with Los Cool Arrows at the Ventura Majestic Theater, performing as part of the Concerts for Causes Series where proceeds are donated to the Make a Wish Foundation. Other venues of note include The Glass House, The Observatory OC, House of Blues (Anaheim, San Diego, Las Vegas), Garden Amp in Garden Grove, the Pomona Fairplex, This is Not Croydenfest, MIG Fest, the Municipal Theater of Riverside, the Majestic Theater (Los Angeles), the Ventura Theater, the KROQ Beach Clean Up in Venice, Echo Park Rising 2019 in Los Angeles, the KROQ Hermosa Beach Summer Series, San Manuel Casino, the Orange County Fair, and Orange International Street Fair, and many more. Other bands and acts Luis has performed with throughout the years as an additional horn player, include: Grooveswitch, Skatsune Miku, The Odd Advantage, SAVG Brass Band, Triple Thread, MORDAD Orquesta, Final Boss Brass Band, Wondermelon, Free Tequila, Los Ingenieros del Ritmo, Trapdoor Social (hired horns), and with New Doubt, the Gwen Stefani approved No Doubt Tribute Band, and more!

Luis is  no stranger to the recording process, as he has recorded trombone  with Half Past Two, The Ruffolos, Triple Thread, SAVG Brass Band, The Sovereign Artist (recording the full 15-track album having only learned the songs and been with the band for a WEEK), Final Boss Brass Band, Masha Alexis and the Fam, the EP demo album by Wondermelon, and more. Luis has recorded both within home studios as well as professional studios including Pot of Gold Recording and Matter Recording, having worked with engineers including David Irish (engineer for the Interruptors, Reel Big Fish, etc.) and Reade Wolcott (vocalist and engineer for We are the Union). Luis has also had a hand in recording himself, having recorded and mixed keys and horns for LA hip hop artist, Aaron Kremen, the SoCal Reggae Rock band The Ruffolos, and  for Reggae Rock Band Triple Thread  in his personal home studio. Luis is open to recording and mixing horns for little to no cost, as he enjoys learning more about recording in doing so for other bands in any and all musical styles. Luis has experience with using different DAW including Logic, Audacity, and Reaper. Luis is open to collaborate with other artists interested in having horns on their tracks.
 

While Luis is typically accustomed to being a piece of a bigger musical picture within the bands he play in, Luis also has found a lot of joy and, honestly, fulfillment in songwriting music of his own! Luis has released three Singles in the past, my first being a light jazz tune called “Postal,” the second an electric ambient tune in “Casa Fresa,” and most recently a jazz-fusion funk tune “Surface Tension.” Luis' debut Single, Postal, released on November 24, 2020. A light jazz piece, Luis composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered jazz piano on this song. Postal, while a simple, easygoing jazz piece, represents Luis in musical form, with its easygoing, comforting warmth. Luis released his second Single, Casa Fresa, in July of 2022. This song was written as an expression of Luis' grief in light of his grandparents passing 2019 and 2020. Casa Fresa features synth soundscapes that evoke nostalgic emotions in reflection of good memories experienced from being with his grandparents at their home during his youth. The song was written as a tribute to their love and sacrifices working as strawberry pickers after having immigrated to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their future family. Luis' 3rd Single, Surface Tension, released in November of 2023. The tune, in collaboration with Rob Casas of The Ruffolos and Marrano Beach Records, features tight horn lines over a groovy jazz-funk groove. The tune blends funk and house motifs to create a colorful fusion to dance along with. The song features Luis' brother Juan Gracia on drumset, Nicolas Dinucci on Bass, Ed Corbett on Tenor Saxophone, Maxfield Maynard on Trumpet, and Luis on Trombone and Keys.

 

Luis recently released his recent Single, Where Do You Find the Time? on May 23rd, 2025. “Where Do You Find the Time” is a jazz-fusion ballad written based on the projection of Luis' emotions and reflections regarding his challenges with work-life balance, and finding joy despite the existential dread of the ever-speeding pace of life. The following phrase was a source of inspiration for this song most days: “Where do you find the time to do the things you want in life? How can I find joy if I keep getting stuck in the little things in everything?” This song is a direct reflection his progress worked on consistently for the past year within therapy, and is something Luis is still currently working through, as he fights to remain mentally present despite his insecurities of aging and the passage of time speeding.. This song does end with hope that Luis will be able to overcome these insecurities with a stronger sense of self, and be able and willing to make the daily effort to stay present and hopeful in times of uncertainty. The song features both Jared Jamias and Rob Casas on guitar, Mike Alvarez on Bass, Juan Gracia on drumset, and Luis on Trombone, Trumpet, and Keys. The song was recorded, and produced by Rob Casas of Marrano Beach Records.

 

Luis is also in progress on a full length album which he hopes to record and release at the end of 2026. 

Despite the name and impression is Luis is striving to make within the local and working music scene, Luis is grateful for the opportunity to even continue playing music on the side from his day job of being a music teacher. Luis simply enjoys performing for people, and is happy to say hi and get to know the people who go out and listen to live music. Despite the trajectory of Luis' musical career and endeavors, Luis hopes to continue being able to meet and connect with the people who make this all possible and worthwhile; the audience.