Bobby Shew is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. He played trumpet and toured with the NORAD joint forces band stationed in Colorado Springs. After leaving the Army, Shew joined the Tommy Dorsey band, later moving to the Woody Herman and Buddy Rich big bands in the mid-to-late 1960s. He was a trumpeter in Tom Jones's band while in Las Vegas, and is featured on his 1971 live album Live at Caesar's Palace. In 1972, Shew moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, where he did much studio work and played with some of the top big bands of the era through the end of the 1970s: Akiyoshi/Tabackin, Louis Bellson, Maynard Ferguson, and others. He also recorded several albums as leader, starting with 'Debut' in 1978. A superb technician and consummate improvisor, he is often cited as a major influence by many of the finest contemporary brass players.