Tip From The Top

By Bill Watrous

It's probably true to say that anthing it is humanly possible to do on a trombone can be done by Bill Watrous. Noted for his brilliant technique, he has established himself over the past decade as one of the world's leading soloists.

Born into a musical family in Connecticut in 1939, he played with the bands of Quincy Jones, Woody Herman and Count Basie before becoming a much-sought-after session player in the studios at CBS and ABC during the 60s and 70s.

He has made many albums, including Some Place Else and Reflections with Pat Williams and his Orchestra, and is featured with the Tom Kubis Big Band on Slightly Off The Ground. He is also heard frequently soloing on vocal tracks: the Watrous solos on The Very Thought Of You on the album All Of Me, Toni Tenille with orchestra conducted by Sammy Nestico, is sheer magic.

Bill Watrous first came to the UK in 1982 when he recorded an album 'live' at the Pizza Express with Brian Dee, Len Skeat and Martin Drew, and has made many visits since.

I am often asked how I warm up, and my latest theory on warming up is basically pretty simple. I am often asked how I warm up, and my latest theory on warming up is basically pretty simple. I start on the G concert, three leger lines above the bass clef, and I warm up on that note with exactly the same attitude that most people would warm up on the low B flat.

This establishes muscle memory, and you do this absolutely relaxed with no pressure whatever, and work up and down from there, hopefully with the same relaxed attitude, always returning to that G concert. If you can translate down from there, hopefully with the same relaxed attitude, always returning to that G concert. If you can translate all of this relaxation over the entire range of the instrument, it makes things a great deal easier to play the trombone. I thank all of you so very much for being so nice to me whilst I was in Great Britain. God bless you all, and I hope to see you again soon. Best wishes, Bill Watrous.

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