Okay, so I’ve been meaning to put together a list of the best trombone players ever, like, for ages. It’s such a rabbit hole, though! Started this morning, and I’m still tweaking it.
Getting Started (and Immediately Overwhelmed)
First, I just brain-dumped every name I could think of onto a page. You know, the big ones everyone talks about: J.J. Johnson, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden… the list went on and on. I felt pretty good, like I had a solid base.
The Research Black Hole
Then came the “research” part. I really just started browsing around, checking out a bunch of different forums and articles and some other lists.
- Checked out some “greatest” lists online.
- Browsed forums about trombone players.
- Listened to some recommended recordings.
Narrowing It Down (The Hard Part)
This is where it got tricky. How do you even compare these guys? They all played in different eras, different styles… it’s apples and oranges, you know? I decided I needed some kind of criteria, even if it was totally subjective.
I tried to keep these things in mind:
- Technical Skill: Could they play fast, clean, and in tune? Pretty basic, but important.
- Tone: Did they have a sound that was unique and recognizable?
- Influence: Did they change the way people thought about the trombone? Did they inspire other players?
- Improvisation: (For the jazz guys, mostly) Could they create amazing solos on the spot?
I spent hours listening to recordings, old and new. I went back and forth on a few names, swapping them in and out of my list. I even argued with myself a little (in my head, of course).
The (Current) Result
My list is my personal top list, I might change it next week, but that’s the fun of it, right? It’s all about exploring the music and appreciating these incredible musicians.
The important thing is that the list is all about the people and what they did with the music.
I think I’ve got a pretty good list for me, at least for now, I keep it simple and based on all of the above I did.
