Featured here are both solo trombonists (the masterful Frank Rosolino and Carl Fontana), bass and piano (I thought that was nice for our class. This is a bossa nova in the key of D, and I just love the melody. The countermelody in the second trombone is great it it’s own right too.
I love how the trombonist clearly listen and support each other (I believe one is playing lead and the other is supporting the other, but even playing lead requires you to listen and keep the balance). Here articulation plays a key role in keeping the two lines distinguishable from each other, but also in defining the melody and providing contrast. The smooth parts sound so much smoother after some staccato notes. A hot tub is so much more inviting after a long day.
This song is a song where you can solo in either normal or double time. In my solo’s I have struggled with how to switch between these and integrate them into a larger idea. If you listen carefully, you’ll here clear distinct parts of the solos switch time. The first trombone solo is in double time, and if I’m not mistaken, the rhythm section speeds up with him as the solo gains intensity. It requires complete focus for the band to be able to intensionally speed up together and then reset the tempo. The second trombone solo plays with the two speeds or feels. While I enjoyed the intensity of the first solo, I actually liked the variation and melody of the second solo more. What do you think? I also really liked the bass solo (which includes both speeds.)
http://youtu.be/94qVX-0KrVM
I preferred the second solo as well, simply because it’s hard for me to hear the trombone lines at such a fast speed.