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Re: Bass Trom article in the Daily Telegraph

On 04 Jun, Peter Younghusband <monkey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > Not since the advent of George Roberts, methinks. Have all you bass
> > 'bone players got his new Music Minus One CDs yet?

> No...tell me more Adrian...........

OK Monkey (and any others interested), here is a post I sent to the
trombone list recently...

==========================================================================

No man has probably done more to popularize the bass trombone as a solo
instrument than has George Roberts, and the work on his two latest CDs for
MMO (Music Minus One) is no exception.

I remember when I first met George about 16 years ago, he was always
talking about the lyrical possibilities of the bass trombone. He would say
"Read the words of the song" and "Listen to the phrasing of Frank Sinatra
and Tony Bennett" and "You can say it all on the bass trombone". And he is
right, you can! The middle register of the bass 'bone is the same as that
of the great baritone ballad singers.

The two CDs prove this point, as George has used the same arrangements
that were used by Frank and Tony on their famous recordings of yesteryear.
Many of these are identical in style to his old buddy, Nelson Riddle,
possessing that big band drive and lush sounds of the strings and
woodwinds that were so popular before the advent of rock and roll.

The tracks on the CDs are played first by George to demonstrate his
impeccable laid back style, then again with just the rich orchestral
backings and an empty seat for you to sit in and solo. This must be
heaven! The printed music I received with the CDs is in bass clef, though
George has told me that there are books for Bb and Eb instruments too. It
is very well printed and easy to read, written very simply for the
performer to add their own stylization. All the dots sit comfortably in
the vocal baritone register (about a 12th from low A to high E), though
George sticks in the odd pedal note here and there for effect. This means
that it would also be comfortable for flugelhorn or low trumpet, alto and
baritone saxes and possibly soft reed tenor sax. It is all in the range of
tenor trombone, though there are a few low Cs and B naturals < * that is Ds
and C#s to the brass banders > to negotiate, unless you have the range to
go an octave higher. The music comes complete with chord changes and
lyrics, so it is good for the jazzers and crooners too. 

The CDs and Music:

MMO CD 3906 "Unsung Hero"
Chicago
My Way
Witchcraft
Summer Wind
Embraceable You
Fly Me To the Moon
I've Got You Under My Skin
I've Got the World On a String
Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week

MMO CD 3907 "Big Band Ballads"
Steppin' Out With My Baby
Stardust
What's New?
Skylark
One For My Baby
It Might As Well Be Spring
Night And Day
Yesterdays
Learnin' the Blues
Prisoner Of Love 

Useful URLs: http://www.minusone.com and http://www.pocketsongs.com 

George, just turned 70, has lost none of the enthusiasm he had in the
early '50s with the Stan Kenton Band and Nelson Riddle Orchestra. I wish
him the very best of luck in all his ventures.

Liner notes: George plays on a C.G. Conn single valve bass, model #110H.

Adrian

-- 
  ____    _ _
 /    \ _| (_)___   _____ ADRIAN DROVER 
|  ()  / _ | / _ \_( ___/ INNOVATIVE ORCHESTRAL SERVICES
|__/\__\___|_\___/____)   http://www.gemscore.demon.co.uk/   
Business:  adios@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx		     
Personal: adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  (Glasgow, Scotland)


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