[Dixielandjazz] First position on the trombone (was: Murray McEachem)

[Williams, Bob]

As far as I know, I believe most pros assume 1st position slightly
downstream from closed.  I've heard the vibrato reason, except I believe
most decent players vibrato only to the flat side (i.e., DOWN) because flat
sounds less out of tune than sharp.  I don't intentionally include the sharp
side of the note in my slide vibrato.

The main reason I have my first position slightly south of closed is to
modify flattened intonation - if I (or more likely, the other musicians in
the band ;-)) go flat and need to raise the pitch, where would I go if I
were already fully closed?  

I can fiddle with my tuning slide, but it looks hokey to do that in the
middle of a phrase.  In fact, I haven't touched my tuning slide in 4 years
except to occasionally sand the rust off. God has given us the gift of
infinitely variable intonation...why not use it?

- Bob "We're so glad to see you're still playing!" Williams

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Stan Brager
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 1:32 PM
To: Patrick Cooke; DJML
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Murray McEachern


Pat;

When I was taking my first trombone lessons, my teacher told me that many
players adjust their tuning slides to have first position out from the
closed position for 3 reasons. One was for slide vibrato, another was to
keep the trombone in tune as the temperature changes, and the third was to
avoid a clang when the slide is brought quickly to the first position.

Stan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick Cooke" <patcooke at cox.net>
To: "Robert Newman" <bobngaye at surewest.net>; "Dixieland Jazz"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Murray McEachern


> I had a sale contract on my house, and I was getting ready to leave 
> California, when I got a call to play with Murray.  I told him I could 
> do two weeks, which would give him time to find someone steady.
>    He is/was a very talented and versatile musician.  He played vibes,
alto
> sax, and valve trombone.  He played slide only rarely...he seemed to
prefer
> the valve horn.
> I thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks.
>        He had lots of stories from the Casa Loma band.  He was the one 
> who told me about the bone section who played with the tuning slides 
> all the
way
> in so they could use a slide vibrato in first position.
>       Pat Cooke
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Newman" <bobngaye at surewest.net>
> To: "Dixieland Jazz" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 1:35 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Murray McEachern
>
>
> You cats haven't mentioned one of the greatest -- Murray McEachern 
> with
Casa
> Loma and many bands thereafter.    Perfect trombone and perfect alto sax.
> What a genius.    Just listen to his alto solo on No Name Jive with Casa
> Loma.   Not bad for a trombone player, eh?
>
> Bob Newman
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com 
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
>


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