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To me, the sound is Jim Self on his YFB-822. What is your definition of the jazz tuba sound/player?

You can't go too far wrong with Sam Pilafian, and Travelin' Light!

Rich Matteson with Louis Armstrong and the Dukes.

I like Howard Johnson.

Nat McIntosh
Howard Johnson
Dave Bargeron

I have quite a few - but it does depend on what kind of jazz!

(Just listing those who are still performing and have significant recordings.)

For Trad/Dixie/Whatever you call it: I would have to pick Eli Newberger out of a dozen top contenders including Jim Self and Sam Pilafian. Just a personal taste in solo/ensemble style...

For Mainstream/Bop: a tie between Howard Johnson and Bob Stewart.

New Orleans Hot Brass: Kirk Joseph and both Matt Perrine / Nat McIntosh (who also fit into the alt.jazz side.)

Alt.Jazz/Progressive/Loft/etc.: Marcus Rojas

Jazz Fusion: Dave Bargeron
Blues-Jazz: Jon Sass
Soul-Groove: L.T. Cohran (Hypnotic Ensemble)

Everyone listed above are great jazz tubist, but we should not forget people like Ray Draper. He played with Coltrane, Roach, and Dr. John to name a few.

I'll second David Richoux on Dave Bargeron.

Another question impossible to discuss without more specifics.
What is a jazz tuba player?
Is it enough to be a classical schooled tubist who plays written charts/arrangements or do one have to be able to improvise bass- and melody-lines?
I have played with the norwegian saxophoneplayer Jan Garbarek and the Norwegian Broadcasting Big Band on occasions. Does that make me a jazz tuba player?
I don't think so.

A second for Rich Matteson, who was an even more amazing on euphonium and valve bone, and a beloved teacher of improvisation...

If you can find this album, buy it:

http://www.discogs.com/Phil-Wilson-Rich ... se/2831040" target="_blank

Karl "a proud UNT grad" H.

One name I haven't seen: Stefan Kac.

Joe Murphy

tuba-tobias wrote:Another question impossible to discuss without more specifics.
What is a jazz tuba player?
Is it enough to be a classical schooled tubist who plays written charts/arrangements or do one have to be able to improvise bass- and melody-lines?
I have played with the norwegian saxophoneplayer Jan Garbarek and the Norwegian Broadcasting Big Band on occasions. Does that make me a jazz tuba player?
I don't think so.

Being able to read charts is sometimes important for jazz tuba players, but the ability to creatively, consistently, and quickly improvise from a very simple thread of chords, riffs, (or even nothing at all) and make an interesting musical low voice to the composition is most of it, in my opinion.
Solos are quite another issue - I don't take them as much as I should - I feel a bit more comfortable in a "major supporting role." However, when I hear the artists I lived above on solos, well, that is why they are stars!

The Big Ben wrote:I like Howard Johnson.

+1

I like Howard Johnson because he can go from a more traditional jazz sound to really wild fusion type stuff. It's both beautiful and nasty...but in a good way.

Yep. Howard's the real deal.

I'll add my votes for Howard Johnson and Matt Perrine.And I'd like to add Dave Gannett and John Allred. Most of you probably have heard of Dave, and I was suprised to not see his name pop up, John played on the Harry Connick band on trombone, which he IS well known for, and tuba. He also was in the band with Rich Matteson and Harvey on baritone. The guy truly does it all, GREAT! Ed

EdFirth wrote:I'll add my votes for Howard Johnson and Matt Perrine.And I'd like to add Dave Gannett and John Allred.

Dave was in my top dozen in the traditional-ish side of jazz. Howard Miyata is another great trombone/tubist - maybe if he hadn't been playing on bone with Earl McKee (Sousaphone and vocals in the High Sierra JB) for so long he would be better known for his tuba performance.

No disrespect, but Draper? He swings like a brick. I'm listening to The Ray Draper Quintet, New Jazz 8228, featuring Coltrane right now. My theory is that Coltrane owed him a huge favor... Huge!!

Two gentlemen who play great lines and solo quite nicely:
Art Hovey (Galvanized Jazz) & Joshua Cutchins, (1/2 Dozen Brass Band)

No worries. to each their own.

Marty Erickson. I was lucky enough to meet him personally and learn from him during classes in Hammelburg, Germany.