Page 1 of 1

Massive Bass Trombone Sound

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:23 pm
by Liberty Mo
I know I am probably really late to the party on this one, but I just heard a recording of Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome by the CSO under Levine. Specifically, The Pines Of The Appian Way ends with the most massive bass trombone sound I have ever heard. I am assuming this is Charlie Vernon? It’s as if he just lifted the CSO onto his shoulders and told them to hang on. The entire section, Pokorny and company, are at their finest (and biggest), but its a massive all encompasing sound not just outblowing the orchestra. Absolutely mind blowing.

Are there any other recordings that comes close to that massive of a bass trombone sound (please enlighten me)?

Re: Massive Bass Trombone Sound

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:28 pm
by MartyNeilan
Liberty Mo wrote: Are there any other recordings that comes close to that massive of a bass trombone sound (please enlighten me)?
Cincinatti, Pete Norton
NY, Don Harwood

They have been known to play a few bass trombone concertos with orchestra accompaniment ;)

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:02 pm
by Liberty Mo
Just got the Respighi: Church Windows CD with Cincinatti and Pete Norton. Saint Michael The Archangel has me crying lying a little girl. Pete Norton is my new hero...or maybe my new nightmare...

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:53 pm
by mdc2d
You should hear Vernon on CONTRA-bass trombone. I was lucky enough to attend the donor brass concert last May with the Royal Concertgebouw (Spelling?) Brass section and the Chicago Symphony brass section. They played Jupiter and the Pines of the Appian Way arranged for brass ensemble. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

Not too mention the Swan Lake (1st mvt.) recording with Solti (I think) conducting.

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:00 pm
by Jarrod
There is a bootleg copy of Buffalo playing Church Windows that makes the Cinncinnatti recording look like a little girl. Way more consistent sound, much better in every way. Stefan Sanders.

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:58 pm
by brianf
You should hear Vernon on CONTRA-bass trombone
A few years ago there was a concert that had a brass arrangement of the Alpine Symphony. Charlie was on the contra bass. I was sitting in the first balcony with Charlie's bell aimed right at me. After the concert, I saw Charlie - he said "Hello Brian" and I pretended I couldn't hear and said ""What? Can't hear, some asshole got a big trombone, aimed it right at me in the balcony and blew the **** out of it!" Charlie just smiled and laughed. That was the loudest I have ever heard a trombone!

For another loud part, the CSO with Ozawa playing Tchaikowsky 5. Second movement. Ed Kleinhammer blows the hell out of 5 notes.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:30 am
by Matt G
#1: You need to hear this. Not a common piece, but some good music. The bass trombonist is front and center.
-Kalinnikov Symphony No 1 in G minor - Royal Scottish National Orch/Neeme Järvi

#2: Fantastic piece, players, and conductor.
-Shostakovic Symphony #7 - CSO with Bernstein

#3: Good luck on finding it, but it is the best job of playing bass trombone on Fountains I have ever heard.
-Fountains/Pines/Roman Festival (Respighi) - Ozawa (1977)

I have found that there are fabulous recordings outside of the normal stuff. For instance, the NY Staff Band will also have some great Bass Trombone stuff.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:44 am
by Matt G
tuben wrote: Matt,

Do you mean this recording?
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/mus ... +Ozawa.htm

RC
That's it. It must have been re-released.

Cool!

Re:

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:16 am
by Ryan_Beucke
Gary Garzetta is doing an hour recital I think on April 29th, you have to hear this guy play. Definitly destined for fame. I kid you not, the absolute best low notes I've ever heard.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:34 pm
by phoenix
Cincinnati Symphony
Telarc CD - Respighi Church Windows, terrifying
hell yea, crazy bass trombone sound


Another recording to hear Vernon+Pokorny: CSO Shostakovich 7. The last three minutes or so of the last movement are absolutely amazing.

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:40 am
by happyroman
Blair Bollenger on Four of a Kind 2. Not loud, but the biggest, warmest bass trombone sound I have ever heard. The other three guys in the group are no slouches, either.

I'll second the Vernon nomination.................

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:39 am
by Tom Mason
Every time I go to Midwest, I go to the CSO concert that does not include the Christmas show.

The first year I did this, I lucked out and was able to get tickets in the balcony straight ahead of the low brass and string bass section. I listened to the program, (Shostakovich 1) and there was a great section sound as one would expect from the CSO, and then............................



You could see Mr. Vernon and Mr. Pokorny take in a bbbiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggg breath of air................................... :o

And then it got serious................ :shock: :)


You can sit there and see these people take an instrument that you and I have, and put sound out of them that we hear in our dreams, just better. I've been blessed to be able to hear Mr. Vernon, Mr. Bollinger, Mr. Kleinhammer, and Mr. Rojak, in live performances. There are not many sounds that compare to the great low brass, and I'll add string bass sections of the major orchestras performing the right works.

Tom Mason

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:51 pm
by Dan Satterwhite
Another recording to hear Vernon+Pokorny: CSO Shostakovich 7.
I believe that's Vernon+Jacobs/Martin. Not bad for an old guy with one lung! :shock:

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:18 pm
by Dan Satterwhite
Sarcasm, Joe....sarcasm...