Is the trombone dead?

It's called a slide whistle. There's a slide whistle solo on The Lovin Spoonful's "Henry Thomas" from "Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful.

 

I especially love Bowie's work with Kahil El'Zabar in the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Favorites are "Dance with the Ancestors" and "21st Century Union March." Some wonderfully deft and soulful trombone playing on those records!

L.

Dance with the Ancestors

 

Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass are still active, and feature trombone a lot.

 

As a counterpart to human voice, I learned much later in my life that both Gene McDaniel/s TOWER OF STRENGTH and the Everly's THAT'S OLD FASHIONED, 1960s pop hits, both featured the trombone on their memorable intros.

 

Wow, thanks for all the great links, people. Lots more trombone players out there than I figured. I'm glad there's still some life in the old warhorse, yet.

But I'm surprised to hear that both the clarinet and the vibes are fading away. The clarinet especially is an awesome instrument, and I don't understand why the bop players largely ignored it (though the vibes certainly weren't ignored).

 

I saw that an hour after I posted and couldn't edit. I see it took 4 pages til someone noticed my group spoonerism.

 

The accordian.

 

But a weapon that can sound beautiful, have you heard a lone piper playing a lament?

I agree on the accordion though....

 

Q: What's the difference between a dead trombonist in the road and a dead duck in the road?

A: There are skid marks in front of the duck.

 

Just saw this thread and wanted to add the name of Michael Davis, who has some great stuff on the Hip-Bone label (http://www.hip-bonemusic.com/). He did a great album with another 'bone player, Bill Reichenbach called Bonetown. There's a clip of them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8MnLfkrvak.

And for yucks and giggles, trombonist Steve Peterson has some video shorts about the life of a trombonist at http://thepetersonproject.com/. Funny stuff.

 

Haha, I was going to say...give me some trombone, clarinet and vibraphone/xylophone and I'm set

 

And the tuba on "Wake The World"

And the French Horns on err.. "George Fell Into His French Horn" and "Surf's Up"

 

Bonerama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m359HPdrWw

K

 

George Lewis the brilliant avant garde trombonist and composer hasn't been mentioned I think. And of course there are countless orchestra compositions that use trombone.

Trombone Dixie is a great track. It's also 44 years old, so I don't know if it's a great example of the continuing viability of the trombone.

 

Brookmeyer is still touring I think; its kinda funny that he hasn't been mentioned yet...

 

Probably because he's a valve player. A lot of trombone purists consider the valve bone as they would the DH in baseball - it just doesn't belong.

But I love Brookmeyer's playing as well as his arranging. JJ was also a great arranger.

I had put Jimmy Knepper's Knepper in L.A. on the turntable the other night. Great stuff!

 

It's very well alive in rock/pop genre.

Bands like Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Phoenix Horns, and a few others have popularized the sound of brass in rock.
James Pankow was one of the most talented trombonists of the rock genre.

Let's not forget Clifford "Urbie" Green who was one of the most sought-after jazz trombonists in the music industry.

Below are the photos of Chicago and Urbie Green respectively.

 

This is the album I reach for when I want to hear trombone perfection. I'm sorry J.J. decided to leave us when he did but he's in a better place now.

PROOF POSITIVE

 

I second the Bonearama post above. They are pretty big on the Jam Band circuit, reinterpreting Edgar Winter, Jimi Hendrix and even Black Sabbath:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjA8198XJdo&feature=related

With a front line of 4 trombones, they are pretty high powered.

Also. Big Sam's Funky Nation is really funky

 

"The Time Is Now!" especially -- check out the samples HERE.

As a musician friend one said to me once (about the Alban Berg string quartets), "It'll fnuk you up REAL good!!!"

 

I play it once, in 4th grade...

Paging Patrick Denny, please PM me Patrick Denny,



thanks,

mrbill

 

Trombone dead? NO WAY!!!

Less Than Jake -- Trombone AND Sax (off to the left, not pictured)


Big D and The Kids Table


Voodoo Glow Skulls


Streetlight Manifesto


I could go on and on. Trombones and Punk/Ska bands and many other genres are very prominent. All the bands I posted above are still active, and from the 90's till now. I would have found more, but got tired of all the image searching. haha

 

Only the other day I bought a superb trombone CD by Rico Rodriguez.

The most interesting trombone player I have seen played live at The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal some years back - he had no arms, I think due to Thalidomide. He was playing a specially adapted instrument and was an excellent player.

 

It's nice to see these young groups following in the footsteps of Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and other brass rock bands of the late 60's and early 70's.