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Interview

An Interview with Abbie Conant

By Richard Human, Jr. • February 16, 2002
If all you know about Abbie Conant is her experiences with the Munich Philhamonic, consider taking a few minutes to learn about the other 99% of this great musician.

An Interview with Benny Powell

By Bob Bernotas • September 01, 1999
"Being a jazz musician," Benny Powell maintains, "is an honorable profession." Best known for his 12-year tenure with Count Basie, he has worked extensively on Broadway, television, and recordings. Powell also has made his name as a leader in his own right, a respected teacher, and a dedicated activist in the cause of jazz.

An Interview with Bill Pearce

By Douglas Yeo • July 16, 2000
Because Bill Pearce is not widely known to today's generation of trombonists, I asked Bill if he would do this interview with me for the Online Trombone Journal, so both players who have admired him for so long and those who do not know of him could hear him tell his story.

An Interview with Conrad Herwig

By Bob Bernotas • January 01, 1999
From Jack Teagarden's innovations in alternate positions and lip flexibility, to Lawrence Brown's supple lyricism, from J.J. Johnson's appropriation of bebop articulation to Frank Rosolino's range and speed, jazz trombonists have discovered ways to do what previously was considered "impossible" on their horns. Likewise with Conrad Herwig. He is a trombonist for the twenty-first century, and he's here today.

An Interview with Grover Mitchell

By Bob Bernotas • October 11, 2000
Grover Mitchell received his first big-time experience in the 1950s, subbing with Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington. In 1962 he joined Count Basie and played with him for a total of 12 years over two stints. At the time of this interview, Mitchell was leading a big band of his own.

An Interview with Grover Mitchell: Part 2

By Bob Bernotas • August 18, 2001
Grover Mitchell joined Count Basie's band in 1962 and built his reputation as a lead and ballad player. He spent the 1970s working in the Hollywood studios, rejoined Basie in 1980, and stayed with him until the Count's death four years later. In July 1995 - a year before this interview was conducted - Mitchell took over the leadership of the Count Basie Orchestra.

An Interview with J. J. Johnson

By Bob Bernotas • November 15, 1999
J.J. Johnson was the first trombonist to translate the intricacies of bebop onto his demanding instrument. His rich, dark tone and virtually flawless command of the horn became the barometers by which all subsequent trombonists have been measured. But for all his virtuosity, Johnson never abandoned the elusive quality that is essential to all great jazz: feeling, passion, soul.

An Interview with Norman Bolter and Carol Viera

By Douglas Yeo • September 01, 1998
In this interview, Boston Symphony trombonist Norman Bolter and his wife Carol Viera share their vision of what music and music making can and should be, and how their concerts, seminars, recordings and publishing projects help musicians get closer to the "essence" of what led them to music in the first place.

An Interview with Slide Hampton

By Bob Bernotas • April 08, 2000
Ask any jazz trombonist to name his or her three favorite players on the instrument, and chances are one of them will be Locksley Wellington "Slide" Hampton. As highly regarded for his writing as he is for his playing, Hampton also serves as role model, patron, and godfather to a new generation of trombonists.

An Interview with Steve Turre

By Bob Bernotas • November 01, 1998
Steve Turre is, as a perceptive writer once described him, a "trombone evangelist." Tired of the trumpet-saxophone monopoly, he is out there spreading "the Gospel according to J.J. and Slide," demanding due attention and respect for his instrument. One of our most accomplished (and visible) trombonists. Turre is also the undisputed king of the shell players.

Interview with George Roberts

By Paul Hill • November 08, 2004
A studio veteran with more than 6000 movie and recording credits, George Roberts is single-handedly responsible for bringing the bass trombone from "last chair" to solo voice with his lyrical and expressive playing. George has been interviewed innumerable times by many different journals and magazines. We are not limited by the space constraints typically found in printed media, so this interview can be presented to you in its entirety, giving you some real insight into the man behind the horn.

Ten Questions with Doug Elliott

By Doug Elliott • September 01, 1998
Doug Elliott is a mouthpiece maker, brass teacher and clinician, and works as a professional free-lance tenor and alto trombonist in the Washington DC area. He was solo jazz trombonist with the US Air Force "Airmen of Note" from 1989 to 1996. Doug has studied trombone with Gordon Hallberg, Tom Crowe, Bill Richardson, John Marcellus and Don Reinhardt, and jazz with Mark Copeland.

Ten Questions With Robin Eubanks

By Robin Eubanks • June 01, 1998
Robin has toured and recorded with such diverse musicians as the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads and Barbra Streisand on her historic 1994 tour. He's performed on several television shows and specials including "The Tonight Show" featuring Jay Leno, "Saturday Night Live," the Grammy Awards and "Motown at the Apollo." He has worked on several projects for Broadway and film.

Ten Questions with Steve Shires

By Steve Shires • October 01, 1998
Steve Shires, owner and chief designer, has an extensive background as a professional trombonist in the Boston area. He has also had many years of experience as a brass instrument technician, specializing in custom modification of instruments for professional clients, and has worked as a design consultant to several brass instrument manufacturers.

Ten Questions with Tom Bones Malone

By Tom "Bones" Malone • November 01, 1998
Tom "Bones" Malone has built a very sucessful career as a freelance trombonist, arranger, and composer in New York and around the world. Read his "Top Ten" list of how to be a successful gigging musician.