If you're a young trombone player and just watched Carl Fontana play ...you just watched one one of the best that ever played the horn. Now go practice.
Great time, great feel, great melodic sense, great harmonic sense, great technique, great sound. In my opinion the best and most musical jazz bone player ever.
That's right, he is the best! I did not meet him personally, but friend of mine, Slava Nazarov - Russian trombonist, have played with Carl in one of the Denver's jazz club back in 90th. Slava has died in a car accident in January of 1996. I miss them both.
A little thankyou to Stan Kentons progressive trombone sections of the fifties and sixties that introduced so many beautiful tombone players to the world of jazz..
When you watch him play you learn more about how he did it. Very relaxed - gentle even. Easy on the air - not pushing it at all. Speed - I love the way he moves the slide. Watch closely - no up and down - head steady, minimum arm movement. When you listen you wonder how he played so fast but watching he doesn't appear fast. It's a magic trick. He sounds effortless because that's how he plays. He was a pretty big guy - reminds me physically of Wycliffe Gordon. But he doesn't go for the WG acrobatics.
I played with Carl for 6 months in 1998, then played with WG in 01-02. WG is not on the level of Carl Fontana, Watrous, Rossolino. Carl especially is pure taste, beauty, with brilliant and often subtle ideas and technique. WG is entertaining. It's Baryshnikov compared to a tap dancer.
Hahaha 0:54 is a little Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf lick I noticed he uses, you can hear it at the end of the 3:00 version of Polkadots and Moonbeams too
Carl fontana, muita musicalidade e técnica, o trombone é uma dos instrumentos mais difíceis para se improvisar, pois seu jogo não é fácil. Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino, JJ Johnson, e companhia aprimorou a técnica do Trombone no jazz.
one of the two greatest trombone players of alltime imo.frank rosolino and carl epitomize all there is about the trombone.genius applies on both counts.wonderful.
Thank you do much for posting. His trombone playing is so unique. I heard someone else describe it as "conversational", I like to think it's like an easy going conversation.
+steven mahan If God played the trombone, he would play like this. Or...he would at least try. What perfection! To think such a wonderful musician spent most of his years playing for shows in Las Vegas in order to pay the rent. He deserved better.
Don't transcribe it, play the tune from your heart. The fewer Chromatics and more imagination; say yourself. Frank Rosolino: now that's the man, accused of being too technical; but the melodics that came out of his horn = The beauty of his playing and the best of the best of 1949 thru 1975.
In the music world we get the genius male crop up to dazzle us. This Carl Fontana, Art Pepper, Harry James, Buddy Rich. Oscar Peterson etc. Unequalled in the great classics even
@ToulBoi thats Carl. Some people find it unattractive, but i find it very......personable. He made his own unique sound people try to reciprocate. And yes! it is very stylistic!! in my opinion.
That's right, he is the best! I did not meet him personally, but friend of mine, Slava Nazarov - Russian trombonist, have played with Carl in one of the Denver's jazz club back in 90th. Slava has died in a car accident in January of 1996. I miss them both.
If you're a young trombone player and just watched Carl Fontana play ...you just watched one one of the best that ever played the horn. Now go practice.
Doug Skinner I had the great fortune of hearing him seeing him play live.
Great time, great feel, great melodic sense, great harmonic sense, great technique, great sound.
In my opinion the best and most musical jazz bone player ever.
In my humble opinion, you just can't beat Carl for his all-around prowess on the horn. He was truly one of the finest...
That's right, he is the best! I did not meet him personally, but friend of mine, Slava Nazarov - Russian trombonist, have played with Carl in one of the Denver's jazz club back in 90th. Slava has died in a car accident in January of 1996. I miss them both.
Delicious trombone phrases and flexibility tips from One of the best trombone players ever!
A little thankyou to Stan Kentons progressive trombone sections of the fifties and sixties
that introduced so many beautiful tombone players to the world of jazz..
A master. Perfectly at ease. Brilliant.
The two who disliked this are Classical Saxophonists! ;)
😂
Astonishing. If I'd never heard another trombone performance I'd think the instrument were easy to play. So beautiful!
Simple, lyrical, typical Fontana. A genius musician.
I have met him on that same day in that same tv Studio.He was very polite and a fine man.
A true master of his instrument and incredible musician
A master at work. He was really on his game here!
Absolutely brilliant!
When you watch him play you learn more about how he did it. Very relaxed - gentle even. Easy on the air - not pushing it at all. Speed - I love the way he moves the slide. Watch closely - no up and down - head steady, minimum arm movement. When you listen you wonder how he played so fast but watching he doesn't appear fast. It's a magic trick. He sounds effortless because that's how he plays. He was a pretty big guy - reminds me physically of Wycliffe Gordon. But he doesn't go for the WG acrobatics.
Carl's by a nose my 2nd favorite t-bone player. Check out Frank Rosolino on here, also hear Frank's solo on Dexter Gordon's "Diggin' for Diz".
Frank’s end - I know. There were friends who never believed it and insisted something else happened.
I played with Carl for 6 months in 1998, then played with WG in 01-02. WG is not on the level of Carl Fontana, Watrous, Rossolino. Carl especially is pure taste, beauty, with brilliant and often subtle ideas and technique. WG is entertaining. It's Baryshnikov compared to a tap dancer.
Love, love his playing!!
-and OH could this cat play that bone ever so softly, laid back and intense..Thx Carl !
Hahaha 0:54 is a little Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf lick I noticed he uses, you can hear it at the end of the 3:00 version of Polkadots and Moonbeams too
How cool is it !!
Carl fontana, muita musicalidade e técnica, o trombone é uma dos instrumentos mais difíceis para se improvisar, pois seu jogo não é fácil. Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino, JJ Johnson, e companhia aprimorou a técnica do Trombone no jazz.
one of the two greatest trombone players of alltime imo.frank rosolino and carl epitomize all there is about the trombone.genius applies on both counts.wonderful.
Thank you do much for posting. His trombone playing is so unique. I heard someone else describe it as "conversational", I like to think it's like an easy going conversation.
WOW a trombone master alongside frank R.when they play we listen.GIANTS.great post many thanks.
Just fabulous 😮
I echo the comments below! Carl and Frank Rosolino play like no others.
Simply awesome trombone
He makes it seem so easy
One more great!!
..absolutely classy finish as always..
Great Fontana ! best trombonist
Wow! THE MAN!!!!!!
Thanks for posting, love this video.
Top....Grande Artista.
Superb post!
Realmente...
He played the way God would've or wanted it played.
+steven mahan If God played the trombone, he would play like this. Or...he would at least try. What perfection! To think such a wonderful musician spent most of his years playing for shows in Las Vegas in order to pay the rent. He deserved better.
Wouldn't it be awesome if Clint Eastwood made a 1st class movie of his life.
+steven mahan That would be great. I think there's a movie out about Chet Baker now, not sure if it's Eastwood though.
No, God heard Carl play and said "Would you look at that, I didn't even one of those could be played like that!"
This is cool. Serious chops.
Thanks a bunch. :D
Reminds me of Bill Watrous
How come I never heard of this guy...wow! I mean Pete Rugelo, kid ory, sy zentner, the great Jack Teagarden...he is in good company!
Mestre ! 👏👏👏👏👏
My God !
on day I will be good enough to transcribe and play this...
but it is not this day
true
Good luck
Don't transcribe it, play the tune from your heart. The fewer Chromatics and more imagination; say yourself. Frank Rosolino: now that's the man, accused of being too technical; but the melodics that came out of his horn = The beauty of his playing and the best of the best of 1949 thru 1975.
What about doing this today? :)
In the music world we get the genius male crop up to dazzle us. This Carl Fontana, Art Pepper, Harry James, Buddy Rich. Oscar Peterson etc. Unequalled in the great classics even
Terry Lyne Carrington, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, many more??? It’s not all men.
@ToulBoi thats Carl. Some people find it unattractive, but i find it very......personable. He made his own unique sound people try to reciprocate. And yes! it is very stylistic!! in my opinion.
another great trombone player ..
that is some good bone.
Having a ho hum day? Just play some Carl Fontana to perk yourself right up!!!
That's some serious trumbonin
Stars and stripes
Je ne sais pas dans votre pays, mais en France,il y a trente ans, la critique ne parlait jamais de Carl Fontana, pourquoi?
@ToulBoi : what do you mean dry?
I ditto brunogebarski
That's right, he is the best! I did not meet him personally, but friend of mine, Slava Nazarov - Russian trombonist, have played with Carl in one of the Denver's jazz club back in 90th. Slava has died in a car accident in January of 1996. I miss them both.
❤