[Dixielandjazz] A Trombone By Any Other Name

[dhs at ev1.net]

Dear Listers:

I play tuba and valve trombone.  I used to own an Olds bell-front baritone, and would haul it to jobs occasionally.  I agree with the people who state that the baritone/euphonium series has such a mellow tone that it is difficult to project.  Projection is aided by a bell-front aspect, either on an upright horn with a recording bell, or a trumpet shape as found on a flugelbone, marching baritone or bass trumpet.  These are all conical horns whose tubing slowly increases in diameter, as opposed to cylindrical horns such as trumpets and trombones, whose tubing remains relatively constant in diameter.

Conical tenor instruments sit very nicely behind other horns, and give a front line a very full sound.  They make good fourth horns, if you are so inclined.  Played with sufficient volume, they are agile solo instruments.  I once heard Ed Hubble playing a euphonium at a jazz festival, and he made some amazing music.

People are used to slide trombones, and may not take readily to something else playing tenor lines.  As with ANY instrument, what is really important is the player's ability to conceive good lines and bring them to life.  I have listened to sneers about the valve trombone not being a "real" trombone for years (I have owned my Conn Victor for 25 years).  At the same time, an awful lot of people (including fellow jazz musicians) enjoy what I bring to a band on valve trombone both as a soloist and as an ensemble player.

The valve trombone is its own instrument.  I play a mix of harmonic and counter-melodic lines, and seek what sounds good rather than try to imitate a slide trombone.  Good jazz phrases are good jazz phrases, and good phrases support what a jazz band is striving for.  Valve trombones are great solo instruments, capable of playing phrases which are fast and clean.  The Victor has great valves, and for a long time one of my problems was that it was TOO fast.  The valve throws are so much faster than those on my tubas that I would sometimes get where I was going before I wanted to.  Like anything else in music, that was overcome with work.

The other posters commented on tone.  The problem with almost all valve trombones these days is that they are peashooters, with a bore that rarely exceeds .500.  The Conn Victor has a .484 bore.  It is a great dixieland horn, having a narrow, brilliant tone that projects very well.  In fact, I can play lead with a clarinet and another trombone, and make myself heard very well.  The Victor is capable of a very warm tone, but one which is always a little on the narrow side.
It does not blend into a trombone section easily.  Some day I may have a big-bore valve trombone built, one with a bore of about .540.  In the meantime, I get a lot of mileage out of the Victor.

In short, listen to the player before you dismiss the instrument.

Regards,
Dave Stoddard
Round Rock, TX