Favorite ensembles and favorite moments?

[tbdana]

I've played in symphony orchestras, pit orchestras, recording orchestras, symphonic wind ensembles, concert bands, rock bands, funk bands, German bands, casual combos, quartets, quintets, octets, jazz combos, and on and on. Every single format can thrill me to no end.

But, for me, playing with a really good big band is perhaps the best feeling of them all. Probably my favorite. There’s not much I enjoy more than that.

About the only thing to rival it is a really good symphony orchestra. That's also an intense, amazing feeling. But in the end, the fun factor favors the big band, for me.

What's your favorite ensemble? What's the most fun, gives you the most joy, and leaves you feeling the most satisfied? And are there any specific ones you'd like to tell us about? Give us a story about one of your favorite moments.

[Kingfan]

I played in a big band at a city festival. An older couple, he with a cane and she with a walker, came in and sat on the front row. We started our first set, and they were smiling and their feet were tapping to the music. When we started "In The Mood", to my amazement they got up and started dancing. The lady tripped, fell, got back up, and kept dancing! After it was over they hugged and kissed. To bring that much joy was an experience I'll never forget.

[hyperbolica]

My favorite group has to be trombone quartet. We have a few guys who get along pretty well, and were all great players at one time, if not the present time. We play whatever we like. From rock to renaissance.

My favorite single musical moment was making a recording of Bruckner piece with a big choir, a big church organ and 3 trombones. Hair standing on your arms kind of moment.

[MStarke]

Multiple settings and it's more about the way it is done than about the ensemble type.
I play with a good chamber orchestra whenever they need trombones and it's always a very nice and rewarding setting.
Whenever I get to play with one of the better bigbands in the area, I really love it. I find it really intense - and for me as an originally classical trombonist there is always much to learn.
I also love playing trombone ensemble, the sound our instrument produces is just spectacular. And it's always a good opportunity to go to the extremes of the instrument.
Last year I subbed with a really good brass band and would really love doing it again.

If I really wanted to generalize:
In average I don't like brass ensemble so much because trombones don't have much of an interesting role there.
In average I also don't like orchestra stuff so much because of all the waiting and some conductors' attitudes.

[StephenK]

I've played in a variety of ensembles as an amateur: (started with) brass bands, then wind band, trombone quartet, brass quintet, orchestra, pit, big band, soul band, church band etc. they all have their good moments, and I like to have some variety.
It's not so much the type of group, as the music played, circumstances, audience response, that brings the highs, along with buddies on the group. So playing at Buckingham Palace for HMQ, was a moment, also playing dances or weddings with a very responsive crowd, or playing great symphony orchestra music. I only started with orchestra at about age 60, and privileged to play my favourite Mahler 2, and also 1, 3 and 9 (last Saturday!), Sibelius 2 and many many others. There is often a lot of rests, but I also enjoy listening!
Stephen

[JTeagarden]

Aside from the novelty of playing in a new venue, or in a pit (which I have enjoyed the couple times I have done so), big band offers the best bang for the buck for me, the roles are well defined, and the vibe almost always good.

[tbdana]

I also love playing trombone ensemble, the sound our instrument produces is just spectacular. And it's always a good opportunity to go to the extremes of the instrument.

I may be unusual in that I'm generally not a big fan of playing in trombone ensembles. They tend to slow down, sound ponderous, and play adapted music that sounds much better with the original instrumentation. The ones I've played in also have had a pretty broad range of abilities, which creates a fairly low ceiling for what can be played well. And I usually get stuck playing all the first parts, which forces me to live in the upper register for two solid hours, and I leave with wasted chops.

But yesterday I played in a trombone octet that was really, really fun. First, no doubling. Yay! One person to a part, and everyone was really good. It made for a couple hours of really good playing, and that was a blast. And I had help on the first parts, so even though it was my second rehearsal of the day, I didn't leave with sausage chops. Now all of a sudden I'm looking forward to doing it again!

[VJOFan]

There isn't much that compares to a good trombone quartet. Something about the physics and range of the instrument that when a group of trombones plays in tune and in balance it creates a sound that cannot be matched for beauty and resonance by any other combination of instruments. A good section in an orchestra or big band sometimes gets chances to get close to this, but when we get out on our own and play nice stuff... it's a sonic warm bath (insert your own comforting physical experience if you don't like warm baths).

[Finetales]

I'm not sure I could pick a single favorite. There are a few that are my favorites in different ways.

Playing in a salsa band might be the most fun you can have as a trombonist. There is never a moment that is not awesome in a salsa band.

Playing in a good big band is so satisfying. When everyone is locked to the lead trumpet and swinging hard...nothing like it. All 4 bone chairs are fun, but bass is the most fun for me. You're a chameleon, you get your own little moments to be a delinquent, and locking in with the bari and rhythm section is so sweet.

Playing in an orchestra really depends on the rep. If you have throwaway trombone parts or the piece isn't very good it can be a drag. But orchestral playing has some of the highest highs anywhere. Big moments with a good brass section that listens can be euphoric, as can the simplest, softest chorale. The stakes are the highest as every note really matters, and that makes the reward that much sweeter.

Playing in a rock/funk/similar band allows for a comaraderie and connection with the audience that you really don't get elsewhere. A packed crowd all ready to get down with you can make for the most unforgettable memories. Certainly some of my most cherished memories with intense emotions happened at funk band shows. When the band and the crowd is on the same wavelength and both are firing on all cylinders, there is sometimes an energy in the room that can't be described in words, but you never want it to end. That connection extends to the people on the stage, too. There is no formality to follow and lots of room for expression and improvisation, and you can just turn and scream when a bandmate plays something amazing instead of a polite acknowledgement. It is pure energy, expression, and musical freedom.

Ska is just silly in the best way. Hilarious fun from beginning to end. I miss that from my ska band days, I need that energy in my life again.

[AndrewMeronek]

Playing in a salsa band might be the most fun you can have as a trombonist. There is never a moment that is not awesome in a salsa band.

I've done a little bit of salsa, and I agree it can be tons of fun. The part that is not awesome: losing my hearing because all the percussion is mic'd extremely aggressively and the horns are not mic'd at all . . .