[Dixielandjazz] Trombone Focal Dystonia

[Steve barbone]

Barbone Street has had only 2 trombonists during the past 15 years. The
first, Pete Pepke, when gigging regularly could play for hours without any
lip problems. In fact, one day we did a triple (3 gigs) with the quartet.
TB, Cl, Bj, Tuba. Total playing time 11 hours. No problem for Pete.

Glenn Dodson our current guy, is also a chop monster. He is still teaching
some very highly skilled players, but tells them if they have chop problems,
not to ask him how to solve them because Glenn has never had any problem
with his chops. His credentials are impeccable and he was once generally
acknowledged in the classical world as one of the 4 finest TBs on the
planet. He was not familiar with the term focal dystonia and can play all
day long with a high energy sound.

I also work with a professional journeyman TB at the Showboat Casino Gigs.
Clint Sharmin, a free lancer from NY, who records with Liza Minelli (She
asks for him), etc., etc. Plays high register Dixieland and loud (like Lee
Gifford did in NYC in the 50's with Pee Wee Erwin, Phil Napoleon, et al) He
has monster chops also and thinks perhaps the way he plays eliminates such
problems. He uses "very little pressure and a large column of air". He was
also not familiar with the term focal dystonia

Cheers,
Steve Barbone