Best Tuba Player on the Planet

pianolance · Post by **pianolance** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:27 am

I don't know if this thread has ever been done before, but what is your choice (don't give long lists of great players, just a single name) for the greatest all around tuba player ever, alive or dead? Arnold Jacobs? Bill Bell? Roger Bobo? Rex Conner? Tommy Johnson? Cast your vote. I will get the ball rolling with my vote for Roger Bobo.

By the way, just for the sake of throwing this out there - if I never hear anyone humming through and playing their tuba again, that would be toooo soon for me

sc_curtis · Post by **sc_curtis** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:44 am

Ok, I'll bite...

John Fletcher

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:48 am

John Tommy Johnson

Pure Sound · Post by **Pure Sound** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:55 am

Gene Pokorny!!!

RRW · Post by **RRW** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:16 am

*****

Richard Murrow · Post by **Richard Murrow** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:23 pm

John Fletcher, Musician/Tuba Player

THE TUBA · Post by **THE TUBA** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:58 pm

Arnold Jacobs

tubajon · Post by **tubajon** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:21 pm

Don Harry. But question is very strange.

greatk82 · Post by **greatk82** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:30 pm

Justin Timberlake....anyone?

Arkietuba · Post by **Arkietuba** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:34 am

The best solo player I've heard is Pat Sheridan...that guy is crazy...he makes the hardest passages seem effortless and not to mention the musicality in his performance...he is truely the best solo player (but it's so hard to choose just one).

Udi · Post by **Udi** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:48 am

I can't say who's the best tuba player on the planet.
I find inspiration in the way Nat McIntosh plays sousaphone in the context of popular music music. To my ears, he found a very relevant and unique sound pallete and atitude to playing contemporary non classical tuba. He also has fantastic groove.

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:36 am

any links or mp3s available of Jim Dorschner? I'm not looking for p2p stuff, just a cut to give a listen. I found a link to the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen albums available, but I'd like to hear something first.

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:57 am

I don't think there is one best tuba player on the planet. Different players are better than others in different genres of music. The best soloist would not necessarily be best in an orchestra, while the best in an orchestra would not necessarily be best playing jazz, etc. Also, tastes in what is best vary and when you get to choosing between virtuoso players it is all a matter of taste.

I personally very much like the tone and style of Walter Hilgers from recording I have heard, but I also like many others as well.

GC · Post by GC » Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:10 pm

I often wonder if the best is some supergenius player at an obscure college, band, or orchestra in Asia or Europe who we'll never hear of.

JustinLerma · Post by **JustinLerma** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:44 am

I have two favs.

Tommy J.
and
Abe Torchinsky

SirCharls · Post by **SirCharls** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:47 am

Al Baer
Tommy Johnson
Gene Pokorny
Mike Roylance

All great but in different ways, so there ya go.

MikeS · Post by **MikeS** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:21 am

First off, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Velvet Brown. I believe she deserves a spot on anyone's short list.

I'll limit my response to the best playing I've ever heard live. A number of years back I played in a group backing up Steve Sykes as the featured soloist. The performance was in an arena and our "green room" was a hockey locker room. Steve was in a corner warming up. He was playing so quietly you almost had to stick your head in the bell to hear him but every attack was spot on, his tone was gorgeous, and even the scales he played were alive and musical. Steve is a terrific musician, showman, arranger and conductor. He's also a great storyteller. If you ever have a chance to share a plate of curry and a beer with him don't pass it up.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:31 am

MikeS wrote:

I'll limit my response to the best playing I've ever heard live. A number of years back I played in a group backing up Steve Sykes as the featured soloist. The performance was in an arena and our "green room" was a hockey locker room. Steve was in a corner warming up. He was playing so quietly you almost had to stick your head in the bell to hear him but every attack was spot on, his tone was gorgeous, and even the scales he played were alive and musical. Steve is a terrific musician, showman, arranger and conductor. He's also a great storyteller. If you ever have a chance to share a plate of curry and a beer with him don't pass it up.

I second Steve Sykes. A great player, all around nice guy and party animal.

He also saved me a bunch of money by letting me hear him play my old Sanders/Cerveny, thereby proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that it's the player and not the horn that's the biggest factor. I won't be replacing that horn until I can play it as well as he did. I did replace the mouthpiece on his advice, though

Jim

ZNC Dandy · Post by **ZNC Dandy** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:15 am

Neptune wrote:I don't think there is one best tuba player on the planet. Different players are better than others in different genres of music. The best soloist would not necessarily be best in an orchestra, while the best in an orchestra would not necessarily be best playing jazz, etc. Also, tastes in what is best vary and when you get to choosing between virtuoso players it is all a matter of taste.

I personally very much like the tone and style of Walter Hilgers from recording I have heard, but I also like many others as well.

I was wondering between the two of us who would be the first name Walter Hilgers! I wish that NDR/Wand Bruckner 8 was more widely available, so more people could hear what the definition of TONE PRODUCTION is. I definately agree with you on the other points as well. Everyone has their areas of strength.

samulirask · Post by **samulirask** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:58 pm

Jens-Bjorn Larsen is quite amazing.

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