Big Band pieces featuring Bass trombone

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-20 7:15 p.m.

We did recently in the DRAM Big Band a rearranged version of Splanky, where I on bass bone did present the main theme solo one octave lower than usual for one chorus, before the tenor bones came in. And a corus improvised solo for me, which was great fun.

Getting blood on my teeth for more prominent licks and solos, I would like to present my big band for other suggestions where I can develop my impro skills.

Any suggestions for charts here?

Maybe something bluesy or ballad thing??

Maybe something Macky Messer kind of style?

Round Midnight charts adaptable to bass bone melody presentation?

Your suggestions are welcome here. .

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2024-01-20 7:18 p.m.

Wave, Buddy Rich

<YOUTUBE id="8HtQknBwQdc">~~[media]~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HtQknBwQdc</YOUTUBE>

Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week

<YOUTUBE id="QtpIaBCisto">~~[media]~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtpIaBCisto</YOUTUBE>

There's also one I've played written for Charlie Vernon, a few pedal Cs. Can't remember the name of it though.

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-21 2:42 p.m.

Aidan, thanks, Wave seems a good option for me, Saturday night might require a bit more than I can deliver. .. but what a nice piece too...

AndrewMeronek · by **AndrewMeronek** » 2024-01-21 3:03 p.m.

I'm pretty sure that version of Wave is arranged by John LaBarbera. Looks like it's available at Sierra Music.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-01-21 3:06 p.m.

[quote="Burgerbob"]Wave, Buddy Rich[/quote]

Bass trombone solo played by Bill Reichenbach

~~[color=#0000BF]~~@billreichenbach3592

7 years ago

"I don't usually comment on these things but just to set the story straight - it is me playing the solo. Buddy refused to play it as a Bossa Nova so when we played it the first time, it was as a ballad. I think I had been on the band for about 4 days. Before that, I had been playing a lot of jazz in Rochester, NY. So, I played it like I would play a ballad. Buddy wanted it to be a bit "stiffer". It had to be phrased so that he could relate to it. If I played too relaxed, he didn't like that. So, I just played it differently. Like the record. At no time was he going to fire me and the band never had to talk him into keeping me.

Around that time, Buddy fired the whole band, but had to rehire us the next day. That's really all there was to it.

Bill

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-21 4:34 p.m.

[quote="AndrewMeronek"]I'm pretty sure that version of Wave is arranged by John LaBarbera. Looks like it's available at Sierra Music.[/quote]

Thanks for the help, Andrew. I check it out.

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-21 4:39 p.m.

Also just found Jennifer Warthon playing Ain't Misbehavin - Bass Trombone feature with big band - Arranged by John Fedchock

Seems pretty approachable. Good performance. ..

<YOUTUBE id="iuG1B_8GAY4">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iuG1B_8GAY4</YOUTUBE>

Kingfan · by **Kingfan** » 2024-01-21 5:06 p.m.

How about Dave Wolpe's arrangement of "Makin' Whoopee"

<YOUTUBE id="5IMrCYGShn8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IMrCYGShn8</YOUTUBE>

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-01-25 9:52 p.m.

Recently picked this one up for the band I'm in, hoping to do it next concert. Changes aren't in the bass bone (neither is the bridge), but there's plenty of blarg on the A sections of the melody (and other opportunities throughout the chart).

<YOUTUBE id="0F70D41fhT0"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F70D41 ... el=TimOram">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F70D41fhT0&ab_channel=TimOram</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-01-25 10:14 p.m.

Then there's this one, which has prominent bass bone throughout, but it is NOT a ballad:

<YOUTUBE id="SAbwL5_fRE4"><LINK_TEXT text="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAbwL5_ ... hallGilkes">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAbwL5_fRE4&ab_channel=MarshallGilkes</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

boneapart · by **boneapart** » 2024-01-26 12:18 a.m.

My band's favorite bass bone feature:

<YOUTUBE id="B0g65O0oM5o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0g65O0oM5o</YOUTUBE>

boneapart · by **boneapart** » 2024-01-26 12:45 a.m.

As I say, my band loved performing "Serenade for Bass Trombone." You can hear it performed by John Ohnstad with better audio qulity on Art Abrams' CD, Speak Low, Swing Hard. Great album, by the way!

RoscoTrombone · by **RoscoTrombone** » 2024-01-26 1:57 p.m.

About 18 years ago I heard a live performance of the BBC big band on the radio. They did a version of My Ship (I think...) featuring bass trombone, which also had a jazzy bone section in the middle as well.

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-26 2:52 p.m.

[quote="Kingfan"]How about Dave Wolpe's arrangement of "Makin' Whoopee"[/quote]

Nice, great, this one is a real treat for bass bone, Thanks for sharing

marccromme · by **marccromme** » 2024-01-26 3:27 p.m.

[quote="RoscoTrombone"]About 18 years ago I heard a live performance of the BBC big band on the radio. They did a version of My Ship (I think...) featuring bass trombone, which also had a jazzy bone section in the middle as well.[/quote]

Hmmm. Cant find any version or arrangement of My Ship featuring bass bone in big band. ... can you come it closer?

RoscoTrombone · by **RoscoTrombone** » 2024-01-26 4:21 p.m.

[quote="marccromme"]<QUOTE author="RoscoTrombone" post_id="232261" time="1706295470" user_id="3852">
About 18 years ago I heard a live performance of the BBC big band on the radio. They did a version of My Ship (I think...) featuring bass trombone, which also had a jazzy bone section in the middle as well.[/quote]

Hmmm. Cant find any version or arrangement of My Ship featuring bass bone in big band. ... can you come it closer?
</QUOTE>

Okay I've just typed my ship bass trombone solo into Google and found brassbones on soundcloud. It's not the same version however, I'm guessing it was an arrangement just for the band perhaps?

Sorry I can't be of more help, I can remember listening to it & just enjoying the sound of John Higginbotham but haven't heard it again since

mikerspencer · 2024-01-27 9:23 a.m.

Tom Kubis arrangement of Bill Bailey:

<YOUTUBE id="WaaNeRKZyGY">https://youtu.be/WaaNeRKZyGY</YOUTUBE>

Marty Paich arrangement of It's Alright With Me (the hardest entry in the book, plus need to negotiate moving the jazz from second to bass):

<YOUTUBE id="i735_0SKoOE">https://youtu.be/i735_0SKoOE</YOUTUBE>

mikerspencer · by **mikerspencer** » 2024-01-27 9:24 a.m.

If you're feeling cosmically adventurous:

<YOUTUBE id="rZoYOulxwQo">https://youtu.be/rZoYOulxwQo</YOUTUBE>

mikerspencer · by **mikerspencer** » 2024-01-27 3:07 p.m.

Frank Mantooth's A Nightingale Sang has solo and jazz.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-01-27 5:59 p.m.

[quote="mikerspencer"]Tom Kubis arrangement of Bill Bailey ...[/quote]

Apparently recorded 2008 (released 2009). Personnel?

ithinknot · by **ithinknot** » 2024-01-27 6:09 p.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]<QUOTE author="mikerspencer" post_id="232318" time="1706365390" user_id="15388">
Tom Kubis arrangement of Bill Bailey ...[/quote]
Apparently recorded 2008 (released 2009). Personnel?
</QUOTE>

1992

<ATTACHMENT filename="kubis at last.jpg" index="0">~~[attachment=0]~~kubis at last.jpg</ATTACHMENT>

Posaunus · 2024-01-27 6:16 p.m.

[quote="ithinknot"]<QUOTE author="Posaunus" post_id="232374" time="1706396390" user_id="158">
Apparently recorded 2008 (released 2009). Personnel?[/quote]
1992

kubis at last.jpg
</QUOTE>

Thanks, David! Is this the same recording or was it recorded earlier than the 2009 release?

Many of the same musicians still play with Kubis at his monthly gig in Long Beach.

What a pleasure to listen to (and watch) these guys make music!

ithinknot · by **ithinknot** » 2024-01-27 6:20 p.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]<QUOTE author="ithinknot" post_id="232376" time="1706396943" user_id="9763">

1992

kubis at last.jpg[/quote]

Thanks, David! Is this the same recording or was it recorded later than the 2009 release?

Many of the same musicians still play with Kubis at his monthly gig in Long Beach.

What a pleasure to listen to (and watch) these guys make music!
</QUOTE>

There's only one recording; that 2009 date will be rerelease/label/rights stuff...

mikerspencer · by **mikerspencer** » 2024-01-28 2:23 a.m.

Rich Bullock, the bass trombonist from the Kubis band, has tracks and samples on his site: http://bassbonevoice.com/MusicSamples.html

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-01-28 9:45 p.m.

[quote="mikerspencer"]Rich Bullock, the bass trombonist from the Kubis band, has tracks and samples on his site: http://bassbonevoice.com/MusicSamples.html[/quote]

Thanks for that - some fun charts there! I'll have to give them a close listen to see if any are within reach for the band I'm in.

DeanDeanDean · by **DeanDeanDean** » 2024-03-26 9:40 a.m.

Matt Neiss’ arrangement of “I Thought About You”. It’s sort-of a Trombone section feature, though the melody is prominently carried by the Bass trombone.

<YOUTUBE id="KaflrYAjCYM"><LINK_TEXT text="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KaflrYAjC ... JvdXQgeW91">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KaflrYAjCYM&pp=ygUeYXJteSBibHVlcyBpIHRob3VnaHQgYWJvdXQgeW91</LINK_TEXT></YOUTUBE>

bstrmbn · by **bstrmbn** » 2024-03-26 11:13 p.m.

Big band that I play in lets me play the Dave Barduhn arrangement of "Bein' Green" on bass bone. Solo and jazz are in the lead bone part - I play it down an octave or two....

Pezza · by **Pezza** » 2024-03-26 11:33 p.m.

Every piece, in every ensemble, should be a bass trom feature!

ericrich · by **ericrich** » 2024-03-28 10:36 a.m.

Here’s my version of Sonny Rollin’s DOXY featuring Joshua Lampkins:

<YOUTUBE id="M6EfN5vO3zQ">~~[media]~~https://youtu.be/M6EfN5vO3zQ?si=P_7z2X9XfKRw1X4A</YOUTUBE>

Quick Links

Instruments

Marketplace

Big Band pieces featuring Bass trombone