Trumpeter Bobby Shew first got Palmer his start on the Woody Herman Orchestra; Palmer toured 1988 through 1990 with the group. Palmer performs and records with the Chris Walden Big Band, and Bill Cunliffe's "Imaginacion" and other groups in the Los Angeles area. He has also performed and recorded with LeAnn Rimes, Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, and Diane Schuur, as well as touring Japan with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Poncho Sanchez Latin jazz band. Television appearances and soundtracks include "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "Late Night with David Letterman", "Good Morning America", the "Today Show", "Family Guy" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien".