TromboneChat

He passed away today.

Man it’s been a tough week or so. Pat Martino. Dave Frishberg and now Slide.

RIP

Oh wow. I'm just hearing this now. Sad news.

I'm so glad I got to run into him a few times. Marvelous energy.

This eats.

Sad news. I first heard Slide more than 40 years ago. I was a student, subbing in to the Manhattan School of Music Big Band at the NY Brass Conference (a freak April snowstorm stranded one player in the suburbs). I'd never heard of Slide before then, and he was the guest with the band. No rehearsal, because of the weather, so we just opened up some sections of charts for him to solo. I was sight-reading, so I was really focused on what I was doing until Slide started playing, and then my jaw dropped! I had never heard anyone else play with that kind of energy - he just dominated the trombone! By the last chorus, he was playing double "G's and A's" that just burned! Technique too, and not the bell in the mic. kind, either! He was here in Calgary a few years ago, and I got to talk to him then. So nice and humble, and still playing great. Sorry to hear that he has passed. He was a great voice for our instrument.

Jim Scott

NY Times finally got around to posting this... At least it made the front page.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/arts ... -dead.html

When asked what explained his success over such a long career, Mr. Hampton insisted that it wasn’t just talent, but also practice — he practiced four to five hours a day, and would do even more if he had the time.