Jimmy Austin inherited both his name and his first trombone from his paternal grandfather. He began seriously exploring klezmer music about five years ago, when he joined the band Shpilkis. In addition to playing klezmer, Jimmy performs with many other groups around the Pacific Northwest playing various combinations of funk, jazz, soul, and blues. He occasionally performs with circus and theater productions such as the award-winning musical, Dragon Lady. Jimmy also directs The Rhapsody Project's Yiddish Music and Heritage programming.