Don't Be Sad; There Are Still Wonders Out There To Be Found

Thinking about Bob Brookmeyer a lot over the past few days and listening to plenty of his music.  I stumbled across this great interview by Marc Myers on his fantastic site Jazz Wax (which I encourage you to explore).

In an earlier post I talk about the trombone (like the baritone sax) being difficult to love, so I enjoyed this exchange from the interview:

Marc Myers: Why didn’t you like the slide trombone?

Bob Brookmeyer: Who likes the slide trombone? Sax players got all the girls because they were seated in the front row. Trumpeters got all the money because they were driving the band from the back row. Trombones sit in the middle and develop an interior life [laughs]. Trombonists didn’t get the money or the girls.

Gerry & Bob laying it down

Bob was unique in jazz as far as I know for playing the valve trombone rather than the more common slide variety.
 
Though it is easy to get discouraged that so many of the greats have passed away, don't forget that there is so much great jazz out there that we haven't heard yet. After all, I wasn't even aware of Bob Brookmeyer before last year. Sure, I had heard him with Gerry Mulligan and Jimmy Guiffre, but I hadn't sat down and asked 'Who is that great trombonist?' and tracked down some more information on him; I hadn't yet heard his wonderful group with Clark Terry.

We'll keep our chins up, my friends, and not get too sombre even in the face of another jazz death. Don't forget, we focus on the positive here on Beginning With Mingus!  How about another great song from Bob? Moonlight in Vermont from Dutch TV with John Scofield on guitar? Wonderful.

Bob Brookmeyer is no more

Clark Terry & the great Bob Brookmeyer

Sadly, Bob Brookmeyer has died.  In his honour, let's listen to three great songs from three of the top trombone players of all time.

First, let's listen to Bob playing with the great trio he was in with Jimmy Giuffre and Jim Hall. I love this track.

Secondly, Bennie Green, who I have been listening to a lot lately, playing 'A Bun Dance'. I am a fan of Jimmy Forrest, who plays some fine tenor on this one.

And lastely, who can forget the wonderful Curtis Fuller, seen here in all his glory with The Jazz Messengers, one of the top jazz bands of all time.