Any jazz trombonists in East Anglia here?

[Michael Kilpatrick]

It really is *extremely* difficult to find jazz trombonists!

My Harmony In Harlem jazz orchestra, based in South Cambs, needs a new
lead trombonist to take over later in 2012. The orchestra plays strictly
authentic Duke Ellington, so it's a unique opportunity to step away from
the usual big band.

If there is anybody reading this who knows of trombonists in eastern
England to whom this might be of interest, pelase let them know!

thanks

Michael

http://www.harmonyinharlem.co.uk/

[Ron Gibbs]

"Michael Kilpatrick" wrote in message
news:AO2dnWRpBvV22DTS...@brightview.co.uk...

..or if they are a tiny bit further west, they would be very welcome at
Betti Boop big band in Luton (www.bettiboopband.org.uk/), which is likely to
be permanently disbanded if we can't find any trombonists soon! This would
be a real shame, as it is a really fun rehearsal band that plays some great
charts, modern as well as swing era. We could also use more trumpets,
including one able to take lead parts.

Where are all the brass players?

Ron

[bassdiva]

Hi, I know what its like to find players so I have put your plea up on the
Bedfordshire musicians and beds jazz facebook pages, who knows you might get
a bite.
If you are on facebook try the herts pages as well.
Chris

"Ron Gibbs" <r...@gibbsassociates.co.uk> wrote in message
news:jobise$a6$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

[Michael Kilpatrick]

On 08/05/2012 23:38, bassdiva wrote:
> Hi, I know what its like to find players so I have put your plea up on
> the Bedfordshire musicians and beds jazz facebook pages, who knows you
> might get a bite.
> If you are on facebook try the herts pages as well.
> Chris
>

Thanks, I'll take a look. I've seen the website for the Bettiboop band
before during my trawls of the internet. Seems as if we're in a similar
position.

There simply are not enough trombonists around, and to make it worse,
most of the band bands/dance bands I know of all have Thursday nights as
their rehearsal night. This further skews the availability issue.

Michael

[Nicole Massey]

"Michael Kilpatrick" <ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message
news:SJudnbUsI8nLsjfS...@brightview.co.uk...

I'd check with any universities or colleges with music programs close in to
your area, as they might have folks who are both looking for gigs and also
focusing on their craftmanship on the horn. I play trombone, though I
haven't taken it out of the closet in a great while -- it was one of my
principal instruments in college. But commuting there from North Central
Texas could get cost and time prohibitive quickly, so I'm not a good
candidate for you.

[Michael Kilpatrick]

On 09/05/2012 14:43, Nicole Massey wrote:
> "Michael Kilpatrick"<ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message
> news:SJudnbUsI8nLsjfS...@brightview.co.uk...
>> On 08/05/2012 23:38, bassdiva wrote:
>>> Hi, I know what its like to find players so I have put your plea up on
>>> the Bedfordshire musicians and beds jazz facebook pages, who knows you
>>> might get a bite.
>>> If you are on facebook try the herts pages as well.
>>> Chris
>>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks, I'll take a look. I've seen the website for the Bettiboop band
>> before during my trawls of the internet. Seems as if we're in a similar
>> position.
>>
>> There simply are not enough trombonists around, and to make it worse, most
>> of the band bands/dance bands I know of all have Thursday nights as their
>> rehearsal night. This further skews the availability issue.
>
> I'd check with any universities

Cambridge University has only 8 week terms, so an undergraduate who is
only in the area for only half the year is no use.

> or colleges with music programs close in to
> your area, as they might have folks who are both looking for gigs and also
> focusing on their craftmanship on the horn. I play trombone, though I
> haven't taken it out of the closet in a great while -- it was one of my
> principal instruments in college. But commuting there from North Central
> Texas could get cost and time prohibitive quickly,

err, yes, just a bit! I suspect you could possibly make the return trip
in about 36 hours, realistically.

Michael

[Nicole Massey]

"Michael Kilpatrick" <ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message

news:o6-dnbjskNTsVTfS...@brightview.co.uk...

> On 09/05/2012 14:43, Nicole Massey wrote:
>> "Michael Kilpatrick"<ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message
>> news:SJudnbUsI8nLsjfS...@brightview.co.uk...
>>> On 08/05/2012 23:38, bassdiva wrote:
>>>> Hi, I know what its like to find players so I have put your plea up on
>>>> the Bedfordshire musicians and beds jazz facebook pages, who knows you
>>>> might get a bite.
>>>> If you are on facebook try the herts pages as well.
>>>> Chris
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks, I'll take a look. I've seen the website for the Bettiboop band
>>> before during my trawls of the internet. Seems as if we're in a similar
>>> position.
>>>
>>> There simply are not enough trombonists around, and to make it worse,
>>> most
>>> of the band bands/dance bands I know of all have Thursday nights as
>>> their
>>> rehearsal night. This further skews the availability issue.
>>
>> I'd check with any universities
>
> Cambridge University has only 8 week terms, so an undergraduate who is
> only in the area for only half the year is no use.
>

The benefit there is in talking to the trombone professor, as he or she
(usually he) will know a lot of folks locally as well as which students are
sticking around betwen terms. (8 weeks? Sheesh, that's a lot of terms in a
given year -- ours are fifteen week terms with an 11 week term in the
summer -- yes we also have five week terms and a few 11 day classes for
maymester and winter session, but those eat most of the day with room for no
other classes)

[Ron Gibbs]

"Nicole Massey" <ny...@gypsyheir.com> wrote in message
news:jodsdt$vg8$1...@news.albasani.net...

The nearest music colleges are in London or Birmingham (which are too far
away). A couple of our good young players left us for Brum conservatoire.
We're a community band, not advanced enough and/or not enough gigs for
really good/ambitious players. The big problem for us is schools, where the
free music service has been decimated, and not many youngsters are learning
now. We have a few music teachers in the band, and they can't come up with
anyone. Like the Ellington band, we advertised on a couple of musicians
sites, but got no responses.

Round here, there is competition on Tuesday evenings, too!

Ron

[Nicole Massey]

"Ron Gibbs" <rong...@talktalk.net> wrote in message
news:jogrj1$ntr$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

Though I doubt a ten percent reduction in size for school bands would
provide much of a problem in many cases, (the meaning of "decimated") I
understand the point you're making. I'm in a rare situation where band
programs are still strong and healthy because they're tied to American
Football and so they get the money. Orchestra and choir programs are a
different matter, though.
If you can't find a trombonist then it might be worth it to start looking
for a reed player with a wind synth and the right gear to sub in for a
trombonist. Trombone got less respect starting with Be bop, and so the
numbers dropped. This is the reason for the old joke about the difference
between a dead trombonist in the road and a dead armadillo in the road --
the armadillo might have been on its way to a gig.