Jazz Trombone F

Jazz Trombone F.A.Q.

10) Who are some jazz trombonists that you would recommend listening to for

inspiration, ideas, jazz trombone technique, etc.?

Alex Iles: You can listen for specific things, whether or not you LIKE a certain player:

J.J. for the basis of the language of the modern trombone, Jack Teagarden for how he

took the trombone out of the "tailgate role", Tommy Dorsey for swing style

melody playing, particularly ballad playing, Dicky Wells and Vic Dickenson for use of

riffs, and melodicism, Al Grey for plunger work and how to build a solo to a

climax. Frank Rosolino for a totally unique way of applying bebop language to

the trombone and his sense of wry sense of humor. Curtis Fuller for how to apply

J.J.'s advances, while maintaining an individual style. Urbie Green and Bill Watrous for

liquid smooth execution and ballad playing. Carl Fontana for melodic playing,

strong sense of swing and phenomenal technique. Robin Eubanks for how to make an

updated, neo-classic application of a JJ-based trombone style. Ray Anderson for

pushing ALL rules aside and being different. The list goes on and on...

There are so many great players out there these days...a partial list of players I also

really enjoy listening to includes Hal Crook, Jim Pugh, Mike Davis, John Allred,

Scott Whitfield, John Fedchock, Andy Martin, Paul McKee and Tom Garling.

Jeff Adams: Hal Crook, Conrad Herwig, Steve Turre', Robin Eubanks,

J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Carl Fontana, Bill Watrous, Frank Rosolino, Slide Hampton,

Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey (for that style), Urbie Green, Matt Niess (Capitol

Bones and Army Blues), Harry Waters (Army Blues), David Steinmeyer (Retired

Airmen of Note), George Bohanon, John Allred, Scott Whitfield, Andy Martin

(LA), Bob McChesney (LA & Bob Florence big band), Mike Fahn, Steve Davis

(currently with Chick Corea's Origin Band) and the list goes on and on.

Sam Burtis: In roughly chronological order...Jack Teagarden, Trummy Young,

Lawrence Brown, Tricky Sam Nanton, Dicky Wells, J. C. Higginbotham, Jack Jenny,

Tommy Dorsey, Bill Harris, J.J. Johnson, Al Grey, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy

Cleveland, Urbie Green, Frank Rosolino, Dick Nash, Carl Fontana, Frank

Rehak, Jimmy Knepper, Slide Hampton, Albert Mangelsdorff, Bill Watrous,

Barry Rogers, Art Baron, Papo Vasquez, Sam Burtis (that's me...), Gary

Valente, Steve Turre, Dave Taylor, Keith O'Quinn, Robin Eubanks...I'm sure

there are many, MANY more, but those are (some of) the people I'VE heard

who found their own identifiable way around the horn and sounded good (to

me) in the process.

Chris Smith: My favorites are J.J. Johnson (big surprise there!), Teagarden,

and Abe Lincoln (a FANTASTIC Hollywood studio trombonist who passed away

earlier this year at age 96.)

After these guys, I listen to everybody. All the cats mentioned above. Others not

mentioned above include Julian Priester, Dan Barrett, Grachan Moncur III, Pat

Hallaran (NYC). There are a lot of GREAT “unknown” trombone players out there.

A guy I know in Detroit named Ed Gooch. We played a whole night together last January,

a la Jay and Kai. Ed’s a fantastic musician. But not many people have heard of him…….!?!

I check out any trombone music I can. I think you can learn something (or NOT

learn something, meaning learning what NOT to do- haha!) from anyone.