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There seem to be a few people on here who play cimbasso (with/without tuba also) regularly in big band, not as a double after bass trombone but as their main instrument.

For those that do, how did you convince the band to let you play that thing as your version of a bass trombone? How do you deal with high/tenor parts? Do you play in a standard big band or a freer, more unique group? When do you decide to play tuba on a tune?

I'm slowly transitioning from slide and valve instruments to almost all valves, and currently have a horn being built to serve as a valved bass trombone. If a regular cimbasso is analogous to a heavy Thayer bass trombone then my concept could be imagined as a King 6B.


Thanks!

If the part is written as a 4th trombone, in close harmony with the section and not on roots, do not use a tuba.

aqualung wrote:If the part is written as a 4th trombone, in close harmony with the section and not on roots, do not use a tuba.

Let's not get hung up on absolutes. At least one part I played in a Jazz band setting was like this, but in the score it specifically asked for tuba if possible.

aqualung wrote:If the part is written as a 4th trombone, in close harmony with the section and not on roots, do not use a tuba.

The band I play with, usually pulls up a lot of charts as sight reading. The charts are mostly easier stuff (ie. High school band). Some of the 4th parts are actually higher than the third parts as they are meant for bands that might not have 4 bones.... The tuba wouldn't work in that context, nor would the cimbasso.

Bob, while I'm not a cimbassonista I think it really depends on the music. Our orchestra does a couple of gigs each year when we play 'popular' stuff and the trombone/tuba sections parts usually consisting of three trbns + tuba may be written for trbns + tuba but in many cases as four trombone parts. Sometimes they sounds good with tuba, sometimes wth cimbasso as 4th part. I.e. the 3rd part usually doubling t/b trbn and 4th tu/cimb. Sometimes the parts are written in a way that they sound great with 3rd btrbn and 4th cimb. In big bands depending on style the whole trbn section could be meant for tenors. So it is not that easy to say that the lowest part is OK to play on cimb always. As usual, use the tool that fits best for making great music great.

Mattis in WDR Big Band might be one of the best to really answer your question.

Last/only bump. I know I read about a few guys in Europe who do this.