A trombone is a deceptively simple instrument. Just a long brass tube, bent back upon itself, twice, inside that a U-shaped slide. Simple enough, unless you’ve ever tried to make one wail the way Phil Wilson does.
In the world of jazz trombonists, Phil Wilson is a king. He got his start, back in the ’50s, with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. He’s played with Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Herbie Hancock. He made his name as a hard-driving soloist with the Woody Herman band, the one known as the “Swingin’ Herd.”
And today, he’s doing his part to introduce a new generation to the boisterous, energetic, big brass bounce of the big band. Phil Wilson on the horn and recalling those thundering decades of Woody Herman.
Phil Wilson, Christine Fauson, and Yasushi Nakamura will all be performing tonight with a concert tribute to Woody Herman at the Berklee Performance Center.
See “related links” for details.
Guests:
Phil Wilson, trombone
Christine Fawson, trumpet and vocals
Yasushi Nakamura, bass.