Greg Boyer performing at a concert in Paris.

Here’s a question for fans of the District’s jazz scene. What do all of the following acts have in common?

George Clinton’s P-Funk. Prince. Maceo Parker. George Duke. Stanley Clarke. Alex Bugnon. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Chuck Brown.

The answer is that, at some point, all of them have hired trombonist Greg Boyer, a local mainstay who may not be a household name, but who has certainly garnered a reputation as a top-notch musician.

A native of Bryans Road, MD, Boyer began his career as a tenor saxophonist, playing his first gigs at the tender age of fifteen. Only after enrolling at St. Mary’s College of Maryland did he make the switch to trombone. Feeling the urge to get his professional career started, Boyer left school after just three semesters. Shortly thereafter, just 19, he got his first big break, landing a gig with Parliament-Funkadelic. For nearly 20 years, before his leaving the group in the mid-’90s, Boyer would go on to play an integral part in the group as its horn arranger. This lengthy stint opened many doors, including opportunities with the aforementioned music legends.

In addition to touring nationally and internationally during his career, now in its fifth decade, Boyer has remained active in the local jazz scene as his schedule permits. He leads his own group, The Greg Boyer Peloton, is regularly featured with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, and is a first-call sideman for many of the area’s busiest bandleaders. Anyone who has seen him perform knows that Boyer not only brings a sizeable talent to the stage, but also an energy and verve that rubs off on all his fellow musicians, and the audience as well.

Boyer generously took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions from DCist about his career and the local music community.