I am a trombone player. I know I said a lot of things about everything I can play, but ever since 7th grade I've played trombone. I write for it, I improvise on it, I identify with it. After all trombone is a unique instrument, and those who play it are a unique breed.
The only thing I've found to be true to all trombone players (other than playing the trombone) is that we all seem to have some sense of a perverted sense of humor. You don't need to worry about explaining the jokes. From the time we start playing, we're working with this huge BONE. People call us boners. We have to practice loosening or wrist and practice our wrist action, lipping and tounging. Trombonists have to worry about lubricants and keeping our bone wet and warm. Hey, trombones do it in 7 positions, and the longer it gets the lower we go.
Understand why we are so bad?
The other thing though is that the trombone has been the instrument of choise for many of the greatest musicians ever. No offense to Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker, but J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, and Wycliffe Gordon go as fast with as much musicality, and they have to tounge every note. The horn works against us when it comes to velocity. But the slide also gives us true glissando, the ability to tune every note, and use any tuning system needed. French Avant Garde composers writing in quarter-tonal systems write for special pianos, voice, and trombone. Nothing else can even attempt what they want.
Anyway, I've rambled enough about the superiority of the trombone. Bow down before it in all it's glory, and check out a few links to some great players. If you are a trombone player in a jazz band, and you're tired of playing all the backgrounds and letting the saxes have the soli sections, I've got a couple of pieces for you to check out. send mail if you're interested.
Trombone Links
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