Background: Sunday worship band, 99% contemporary Christian music. Only brass player up against electric, bass, and acoustic guitars with an occasional keyboard, and generally 3 singers. Always try to blend, idea is to add to but not stand out except as needed. My music is the guitar chord sheet, used as a starting point.

Normal Sundays trumpet and trombone primarily share the duties. Easy for me to add enhancements with some highs and filling in during some more monotonous passages. Trombone is well received adding stuff with it, such as adding triplets, few slurs, few minors thrown in, etc. I’m looking for ideas to up the presence of the ‘bone, without being obnoxious.

I'd be interested in hearing a recording of what you've been doing.

Two words: Flutter tongue!

All right, kidding: As Doug suggests, would be good to know what is generally being laid down to figure out a logical place for you.

As a small aside, when I put together big bands, I would always add the pianist/keyboardist last, after the band had almost settled in, because I wanted the keyboardist to have to find their spots, and avoid the "Italian wedding effect." In some ways, assuming the guitarists have already taken up most of the musical bandwidth, I'd see your role similarly: pitching in and adding color where necessary, while staying within the styles you are playing.

Very general and abstract without a recording!

[quote="JTeagarden"]Two words: Flutter tongue!

All right, kidding: As Doug suggests, would be good to know what is generally being laid down to figure out a logical place for you.

As a small aside, when I put together big bands, I would always add the pianist/keyboardist last, after the band had almost settled in, because I wanted the keyboardist to have to find their spots, and avoid the "Italian wedding effect." In some ways, assuming the guitarists have already taken up most of the musical bandwidth, I'd see your role similarly: pitching in and adding color where necessary, while staying within the styles you are playing.

Very general and abstract without a recording![/quote]

Pitching in and adding color is what I try to achieve. Guess since I’m more experienced messing around with valved instruments, just looking for ideas for the trombone. It’s fair to say I rarely play the same thing twice for the same song, due to band members present, and what I play around with in practice. I’ll try things in practice, and either say “That didn’t work!” Or occasionally it’s a “Wow, that sounded good!” Sorry to say there are no recordings available, even the service videos don’t do much since due to good acoustics in the 600 capacity sanctuary my horns don’t require a mic, so if you’re not in the building, you won’t hear the brass. (Feel free to drop in if you’re ever in central PA…and bring your horns!) Forward bell horns fill the room nicely, euph with upright bell projects out better than trumpet and trombone do, and even rear facing French horn is reported to carry well to the sound booth in the rear. Past Sunday was easy, only electric and bass guitars, drums, and 2 on vocals. Basically trumpet took the lead mostly, one mellower song trombone added fills in the middle…bass guitar player was one of the better ones, did a nice job on the bottom end. I’ve covered for bass guitar a few times on euph.

Side note…20 piece brass band on hand once for a special Veterans Day service. Asked for volunteers to join me, only got 2, one gave up, the other loved it.

Having to rethink my role lately. Lost our drummer and the electric guitar player is hit and miss. Acoustic and bass guitar, one singer, and my horns is it this week. I’ll be covering a lot of the music on brass. Covered drums before, all I’ll say is, I can keep the beat but I ain’t Buddy Rich…

Who leads? One problem with this sort of set up is knowing who is doing fills etc when. Agree that trombone is very good in this space. I'd add intros and outros as giving good opportunities.

I.n a 600 seat space I'd have thought it useful to be in the mix, and have some feedback.