Free Republic

So as some of you might know, over the last month or so I've been acquiring some new and somewhat obscure trombones to add to my collection. I’m totally pscyhed to now own a contrabass trombone, an alto trombone and a soprano trombone. Together with my tenors I've got the whole set! So after I figured out how to at least basically play them, I decided to do a multitrack recording with video of the old Herbie Hancock chestnut, Chameleon. Seems to work well for the horns. Enjoy.

Rico Rodriguez was a ska and reggae musician who played with the band on songs including the 1979 hit A Message to You Rudy. The Specials announced his death in a tweet on Friday. It said: "Our dear friend Rico passed away today. We offer out deepest condolences to his family. His legacy will go on forever. RIP dear Rico" SNIP He worked with many different musicians and producers during a lengthy career, including Prince Buster, Karl Pitterson and Jools Holland in his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. SNIP

The last surviving original band member of the Glenn Miller Band has died. Paul Tanner passed away Tuesday afternoon at the Sunrise Living Facility in Carlsbad.

He may be a god of the trombone, but most of the time, Charlie Vernon is just another figure in black tie, laboring in obscurity at the back of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Yet on this particular night in Orchestra Hall, he stood in front, pumping his fists, waving at the audience and bathing in its adulation. Mr. Vernon, the bass trombonist in the orchestra’s legendary brass section, had just finished playing a tour-de-force concerto written expressly for him. This was its premiere run of concerts. Backstage, scores of students, their teachers and fellow professionals from as far away as...