Players known for their amazing tone

[Rick Denney]

Hi Tubenet! I was wondering if y'all could give me a list of the best players around the world with what you perceive as a beautiful tone. I'm trying to shape my tone into something more desirable than what I have now. Currently my tone is fuzzy and I feel that if I had players to try and base my sound off of I can improve a lot. I want to learn what a beautiful and "correct" tone sounds like. Thanks!

For orchestral tone, Chester Schmitz, Floyd Cooley, among those whose recordings are easy to find. Gene Pokorny, Mike Sanders also, a millimeter behind the first two.

But really any decent pro will have a sound good enough to pull you out of fuzziness. The best way to hear it is when said pro is demonstrating the sound for you in a series of lessons.

Rick “making good tone isn’t just knowing what it sounds like—ask me how I know” Denney

[Reptilian]

I'll put James Jenkins' sound up again anyone. Criminally underrated.

[Tom Eshelman]

Marty Erickson!

[doublebuzzing]

Personally, I like Roger Bobo, Tommy Johnson, Allen Baer, Warren Deck, and of course Arnold Jacobs.

I find it hard to believe that it took 15 responses for anyone to mention Arnold Jacobs. Jake's sound has always set the standard as far as I am concerned.

He had a style of playing that has largely passed from the orchestral scene (lots of vibrato, "punchy" attacks, etc) and is probably considered antiquated by some.. Most current day symphonic tubists seem to go for a Warren Deck/Gene Pokorny tone.

[happyroman]

Personally, I like Roger Bobo, Tommy Johnson, Allen Baer, Warren Deck, and of course Arnold Jacobs.

I find it hard to believe that it took 15 responses for anyone to mention Arnold Jacobs. Jake's sound has always set the standard as far as I am concerned.

He had a style of playing that has largely passed from the orchestral scene (lots of vibrato, "punchy" attacks, etc) and is probably considered antiquated by some.. Most current day symphonic tubists seem to go for a Warren Deck/Gene Pokorny tone.

The combination of the sheer resonance in, coupled with the colorfulness (is that a word?) due to the richness of the overtones in Jake's sound were, to my ear, what made it great. Yes, he used vibrato (but not all the time) and he often added some ping to his attacks due to the nature of Orchestra Hall (something Slatkin later suggested to Gene that he incorporate into his own playing so that the tuba could be heard more distinctly), but it is the overall sound Jake produced that set him apart, IMO.

Yes, he could play extremely loud, but the sound that Jake produced was more of a supporting and complimenting one to the rest of the brass section. He was the foundation that the rest of the section was built upon. To my ear, the more modern players produce a sound that is less supportive and more of an equal voice because it is more penetrating. You can definitely hear these guys, but to my ear, there is often something lacking in the way their sound supports the other brass players.

[Michael Grant]

You don’t have to go far from Eastern to hear some amazing tones and tuba playing. Brendan Ige for starters. Right there in your own studio. Attend any of the student or studio recitals at U of M to hear many of Prof. Kaenzig’s wonderful students for wonderful examples of amazing tone. A name you might not be familiar with is William Pemberton. He is the tubist and Executive Director of the River Raisin Ragtime Revue. He also has a YouTube channel. His group performs regularly in your area and for my money, one of the best sounding tuba players I’ve heard. Honestly, his core sound in the entire range of the instrument is the essence of what a tuba should sound like. These are players that you can hear live. For examples of recorded music, check out Chris Olka’s YouTube videos, Sam Pilafian, John Fletcher, Floyd Cooley, Velvet Brown, Gene Pokorny ... there are so many amazing players available to you. When I was your age, there were only a handful of LP’s available*. Here is my challenge to you.... your next post should be “These are all of the amazing players I listened to in the last XXX weeks”. Enjoy!

* I am referring to solo tuba recordings. There were brass quintet recordings available as well with some great playing on them as well as a plethora or orchestral recordings.

[Tubaguyry]

Are there any pros out there that don't have an amazing tone?

Yes. Many. I won't list them here, though.

[Phil Dawson]

No mention of Patrick Sheridan?

[Alex C]

Almost every brass player who plays professionally has a good sound but they all sound different. There is no single "good sound." Get the basics, good breathing, clear articulation and time on the horn. Find a good teacher. I have liked John Fletcher's sound for many years, you can find him on you tube. Floyd Cooley, his sound on his first recording is beautiful.

[Rick Denney]

Are there any pros out there that don't have an amazing tone?

Yes. Many. I won't list them here, though.

They pretty much all sound good to me. But some excel. And those who have a great sound have their own heroes, too. Chester Schmitz is admired as much by orchestra pros as the rest of us, and when someone who has The Sound says something like, “the tuba player I wish I sounded like is Chester,” I take note.

Rick “Floyd Cooley, likewise” Denney