[Dixielandjazz] tailgate trombone

[briantowers]

Luis,

Here is my spin on your question:

With a good technique you can improvise on a trombone in the same way that a
trumpet does and almost make it sound like a trumpet, with good chops.  This
sometimes seems like a waste to me, when one can do so many interesting
thing with the slide.

In so far as "what is tailgate?"  I believe it relates to the original
traditional New Orleans style of trombone playing   (Ory, Brunis, Archey,
Palmer, Dutrey, Jim Robinson etc defined it)
Players like Jim Snyder do it well in recent times.   Lots of long slurs or
smears and a punchy rhythmic style.  In the ensemble - one foot in the
rhythm section and one foot in the tront line could be one description of
the role.

Typically he (tbn) plays less notes in the ensembles than the trumpet and
far, far fewer than the reed player.  He fills in the gaps and links the
phrasing of the other front-line players both harmonically and rhythmically.
When it all works out and everyone plays their correct role, you have a
typical New Orleans styled counterpoint and it needs that "tailgate" sound
in there to achieve it.

As for how did this term come into common usage:

To drum up business, or to take part in carnival parades etc,  the New
Orleans bands used to set up on a truck and play in the streets.  The
trombone would be at the back of the truck (known as the tailgate) as he
needed lots of room to pump his slide in and out.
Brian Towers,
Hot Five Jazzmakers, Toronto, Canada




> By the way, how you guys define a tailgate trombone play? comparing with
> which other styles?
> thanks
> Luis Flores
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>