The Top 5 Most Influential Trombonists (And Why)

Earlier this month, trombonist Jane Salmon posed the following question on Twitter that got me thinking about how to respond with either an objective or subjective standpoint.

Who are your Top 5 most influential #trombone players & why?

— Jane Salmon (@janesalmon) February 5, 2021

Clearly, so many trombonists have had many influences and it has been fascinating to read peoples’ thoughts. As I responded early in the published post, I began thinking it would be helpful to post this on the website with a more succinct flow. Sometimes, we avoid these types of questions, for the sake of not wanting to forget a name (or offending someone). Nevertheless, it is important to ask these questions for ourselves and for the greater trombone community. Plus, if you are an educator, do your students know these names listed?

It is worth mentioning, the following was written in tweet-form that limits your character amount. The writing may be choppy and short, but I do believe this allows for stated objectivity. The point of my responses is to be as objective as possible on who has influenced trombonists the most. These trombonists listed below are not necessarily my personal influences, but ones who, I believe, have influenced trombonists throughout the instrument’s history. If my responses are different from yours, I have opened the comments for your replies, and I gladly welcome the discussion!

Words in [brackets] were not displayed in the original tweets. The pictures and outgoing URLs were not included in the original tweets.

Okay, here is the question in its original form.

Who are your top 5 most influential trombone players & why?

[My responses…]

Not necessarily my Top 5, but who I think are the Top 5 for the instrument (no particular order)…
1. Arthur Pryor
2. J.J. Johnson
3. Christian Lindberg
4. Jay Friedman
5. George Roberts (bass trombone is still ‘trombone’)
Thread below for why…

Arthur Pryor [1869-1942]… his virtuoso solos with the Sousa Band and his own band laid the groundwork showing what the trombone could do.

J.J. Johnson [1924-2001]… what he did in his jazz solos showed the world that the trombone could play the bebop language.

Christian Lindberg [b. 1958]… perhaps the first full-time soloist for the trombone, putting out numerous solo albums and performing hundreds of works [written] for him and the instrument.

Jay Friedman [b. 1939]… joins the [Chicago Symphony Orchestra] in 1962, becomes principal trombone in 1964 (at age 25). And STILL holds the principal position in 2021 – almost 60 years! Countless orchestral trombonists were influenced by the “Chicago sound” of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s.

George Roberts [1928-2014]… when you earn the nickname “Mr. Bass Trombone,” you have influenced people. His career started with Stan Kenton and eventually led him to the LA studio scene. (1/2) His big trombone sound can be easily heard on 6000 recordings from Jaws to Close Encounters to recordings with Nelson Riddle, Sinatra, Ella, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Henry Mancini, and many others. (2/2)

Other names that I wrestled with to possibly include on this list.
1. Emory Remington – the question was directed as trombone player/artist…not necessarily teachers.
2. Abbie Conant – she has done (and still does) an incredible amount of work for women trombonists.
3. Joseph Alessi – our current generation of trombone teachers are influenced by his playing and teaching. But… Alessi joined the [New York Philharmonic] in 1985 as principal [trombone]. Friedman became principal [trombone] in Chicago in 1964. So math wins…
4. Denis Wick – longtime principal trombonist of the [London Symphony Orchestra] for over 30 years was featured on Star Wars recordings and has started a large company of mouthpieces, mutes, and accessories…that’s influence.
5. Melba Liston – this was tricky because the question I asked [myself] was.. “are trombone influencers and pioneers the same?” Liston was the first woman trombonist to play in big bands in the 1940s. Played with Dizzy, Coltrane, Basie, and Billie Holiday.

There you go… Are these Top 5 (+5) influential trombonists on your list? Comment below!