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

Tue Jun 8 08:13:58 PDT 2004

Hi All,
I am so pleased to hear that Bob Williams hasn't touched his tuning slide in
4 years, does that mean he has a "factory Tuned" trom? I know of a bass
player who left his bass leaning against a wall at a gig. From the bar his
mates noticed a kid over at his instrument fiddling with the tuning pegs.
The bass player ran across the room to rescue his axe and a few moments
later his fellow musicians followed, concerned that the instrument had been
damaged. The bass player was bawling his eyes out as the guys, fearing the
worst gathered around. Noticing no apparent damage, the trombone player said
"be cool man, there's no harm done" The bass player through his sobbing
replied, "the damned kids run off, If I can't find him, I'll never get it
back in tune"! 

regards,
Richard Stevens
www.thejazzfactory.net

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Williams, Bob
Sent: Tuesday, 8 June 2004 5:58 AM
To: Stan Brager; Patrick Cooke; DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] First position on the trombone (was: Murray
McEachem)

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
>
>
>
>

_______________________________________________
Dixielandjazz mailing list
Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz

_______________________________________________
Dixielandjazz mailing list
Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz

---
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.700 / Virus Database: 457 - Release Date: 6/06/2004

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.700 / Virus Database: 457 - Release Date: 6/06/2004