Juan Tizol, the long term member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra is probably best remembered as the composer of such jazz standards as, among others, Perdido and Caravan. However, it was as a valve trombonist that he made his mark with Ellington and later Harry James, Louie Bellson and various singers including Peggy Lee and Nat 'King' Cole. Listen to his sympathetic accompaniment to Cole's 1956 recording of Blame it on my Youth HERE.
Brad Gowans played 'em all. Cornet, clarinet and slide trombone although to most of us of a certain age it is as a valve trombonist that we have him filed under. Listen to this 1946 recording of Jada by his New York Nine HERE - it's quite a blast!
Bob Brookmeyer also made a decent fist of that same tune in 1957. Brookmeyer, who replaced Chet Baker in the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, was also a fine pianist and can be credited (probably) with introducing the valve trombone into modern jazz. Listen HERE.
Ken Wray pioneered the valve trombone in the UK recording and touring with the Ronnie Scott Band as well as with Tubby Hayes, Victor Feldman and other Britsh modernists. He was also part of Woody Herman's Anglo American Herd that I heard at the RFH in 1959/60. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a suitable track of him soloing at any length.
Bob Enevoldsen was a top west coast exponent of the 'valved bone' as well as being a highly rated tenor saxist and vibes player which made him a first call studio musician. Listen to him play Skylark HERE.
Other valve trombonists include bandleader Rob McConnell and trumpet ace Maynard Ferguson.
I'd be interested to hear from trombonists on the pros and cons of the two instruments. Lance
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