TromboneChat

Just saw on Facebook - Gordon Goodwin passed yesterday from pancreatic cancer

I saw it this morning (Europe time), very sad news...
The Big Phat Band is the reason I started playing trumpet again 12 years ago.
Now I know I will never see him live, and I'm sad.

R.I.P. Gordon.

R.I.P. Gordon. Thanks for all the fantastic music.

R.I.P., the great Gordon Goodwin.

I met GG when he directed a big band for a weekend in Port Townsend a few years ago. Nice guy, very down to earth. He told a few war stories, one of which stuck with me. He was in a studio listening to a movie score being recorded. He noticed that the music (not his) bore a striking resemblance to Stairway to Heaven. When he pointed this out, the response was ‘we’ll fix it in the final mix” (or words to that effect). Not well enough it turned out and eventually a cheque was written.

Only 70. Way too young.

Favourite GG chart?

Bach5G wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 8:55 pm Favourite GG chart?

Rhapsody in Blue!

Gordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band have been and will continue to be one of my favorite big bands.

Amazing big band!...

It is frustrating to me to see the estate of an apparently highly successful Hollywood orchestrator (we all know The Big Phat Band didn't pay!) struggle to pay his medical debts. And I don't mean validating the GoFundMe effort. That's great. I mean the abject failure of everyone in the U.S. to find a way to reduce those prices in the first place.

That is something that is surprising me as well. I again and again see US citizens having to go into huge personal debt or fundraising to cover medical bills. There are always exceptions and no system is perfect, but it seems like most or all other countries with somewhat comparable economy have healthcare systems that are a) not so excessively expensive and b) manage to distribute financial burden to reduce individual risk much further.

But to get back on topic:
Why is Rhapsody in Blue my favorite Big Phat Band recording? It's very distinct from the original, maintains some of the greatest elements, but somehow doesn't get cheesy, and it has those wonderful short lead trombone moments - played by Andy Martin if I am informed correctly.

MStarke wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 3:57 pm That is something that is surprising me as well. I again and again see US citizens having to go into huge personal debt or fundraising to cover medical bills. There are always exceptions and no system is perfect, but it seems like most or all other countries with somewhat comparable economy have healthcare systems that are a) not so excessively expensive and b) manage to distribute financial burden to reduce individual risk much further.

But to get back on topic:
Why is Rhapsody in Blue my favorite Big Phat Band recording? It's very distinct from the original, maintains some of the greatest elements, but somehow doesn't get cheesy, and it has those wonderful short lead trombone moments - played by Andy Martin if I am informed correctly.

Very sad news indeed. His music with the 'Phat Band' was really glorious.... Music for Music's sake.

A great mix of all musical genres, and all played by some of the finest musicians in the world for sure.

I do a little teaching at a Performing Arts High School, and yesterday was spent listening to Goodwin's music, some of which was semi-familiar to the teenagers such as the music for the 'Incredibles' movie they'd all seen when a little younger.

Watching them really get into anything of his that I played was wonderful... and refreshing. His music will live on!

(...on a health care note....man, if I 'had a nickle' for every fund-raising benefit I've played over the years to help a fellow musician in a health crisis, I'd be so rich that I'd never have to worry about my own health care at some point in the future. You could literally spend your life playing for health-fund-raising benefits here in the US.)

I was fortunate enough to play with the band once before Gordon passed. We didn't know each other for very long, but he was very kind, even as his health was beginning to decline. I don't know if the band is going to continue as a ghost band with Vangie at the helm or not, but either way Gordon's passing has hit hard here in LA.

MStarke wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 3:57 pm Why is Rhapsody in Blue my favorite Big Phat Band recording? It's very distinct from the original, maintains some of the greatest elements, but somehow doesn't get cheesy, and it has those wonderful short lead trombone moments - played by Andy Martin if I am informed correctly.

I can't recall who played what part on the record, but it's in Charlie Morillas' book on live gigs.

Another favorite!

A great musician has just tragically passed away. To make aspersions and use a still grieving family's personal financial burden as fodder for a chat thread is an indignity. I hope they don't read it. Please help celebrate the life of Gordon Goodwin in any way you can.

henrysa wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 10:48 pm A great musician has just tragically passed away. To make aspersions and use a still grieving family's personal financial burden as fodder for a chat thread is an indignity. I hope they don't read it. Please help celebrate the life of Gordon Goodwin in any way you can.

To point out the reality of conditions and factual consequences for a person falling ill, has nothing to do with dignity or integrity; don’t conflate a person’s circumstances with their condition and symptoms.

What is an indignity, is if a whole family becomes destitute because of one member needing medical care, and that proper medical care and treatment is dependant on financial resources available to only a tiny minority of a society.

Dos anyone know if the band will continue? It’s a tragedy and praying for the family to have peace and comfort.

If anyone wants them, I have two tickets to Gordon's memorial concert on the 30th of this month. I broke my ankle and knee, so won't be able to get there. Should be an amazing event.



Timely, this old recording of Bill Watrous' Refuge West big band has been unearthed. This tune is timely because it's an early Gordon Goodwin composition, and Gordon just passed away. Gordon also plays the tenor sax solo on it. Gordon's tune is called, "I Got Da Zzzz's," and is loosely based on I Got Rhythm.

This was recorded at the famous L.A. jazz club, Donte's, on Feb 7, 1980, by a guy sitting in the audience with a pre-Walkman portable cassette recorder, so the fidelity isn't the best. He recently unearthed it, trumpeter Jeff Bunnell then enhanced it and sent it to several of us who were playing in the band that night. Imagine yourself sitting in a smoky jazz club with the lights down, the screaming trumpets are blowing your hair back, you're sipping your favorite beverage and feeling the energy of this band, listening to a Gordon Goodwin composition, with Gordon playing the tenor solo.

Saxes:Bob Sheppard (soprano solo), Jack Irby, Gordon Goodwin (tenor solo), Lee Secard, Greg Huckins
Trumpets: Dennis Farias, Frank Szabo, Larry Lunetta (trumpet solo), Ron Stout
Trombones: Dana Douglas, Steve Holtman, Brien Matson, Rich Bullock
Rhythm: Jim Cox, Dave Stone, Chad Wackerman, Dave Levine

tbdana wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 8:02 am If anyone wants them, I have two tickets to Gordon's memorial concert on the 30th of this month. I broke my ankle and knee, so won't be able to get there. Should be an amazing event.

Dana, I hope that heals up as fast as it can and heals up well. Get better!!!

tbdana wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 8:02 amI broke my ankle and knee, so won't be able to get there.

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope everything will heal soon and complication-free!

Best wishes!

Dana, Take care of yourself and take it from my experience, listen to the physical therapist. I ripped up my knee teaching skiing and thought I could come back fast. I wound up delaying my recovery. I hope you heal well.