We Need More Trombone

Christopher Walken was on a famous Saturday Night live set where he asked for “More Cowbell!”  And of course, he made a good point:  cowbell, done correctly with the correct timing certainly can make a piece ascend from good to great. I’m sure all of you are aware of your favorite examples, like Mississippi Queen by Mountain, Born on the Bayou by Creedence and Fool for the City by Foghat.

But this piece is not about the often-written about cowbell.  No.  It is about the long-forgotten Trombone

I was driving home today, and listened to a new tune by the smooth jazz group of Vincent Ingala (a saxophone player), and this piece had the most soulful trombone lick that invaded into my musical core with ease. Few instruments can present a cascading waterfall of soul as a trombone, while also mesmerizing you by announcing its masculine, but gentle versatility.

Now I am certainly not a musician and I am sure professional musicians will correct me, but I just do not hear trombones any more in the music that is available, or at least that I listen to.  Certainly not country, and only rarely in Jazz or smooth jazz, and hardly ever with rock.  But today, I was once again introduced to that instrument that appears to be forgotten.

It is true that I was a trumpet player when I was young, but there is just something about a well-played trombone that should be cherished.  For example, the old 70s group Chicago had brass, and a great trombone sound, especially in the songs 25 or 6 to 4 and “Beginnings.”   That trombonist was James Pankow.  Of course, there are many others that aficionados can offer immediately, but I would like to thank Vincent Ingala for showing me a little trombone again, on my way home.

This world is in trouble and needs a lot of things but maybe it needs a little more trombone too.  Try to listen to it.  Maybe you will feel it as your stress releases.

© SRCarson Publications 2023