Of all the great trombonist I've heard in my seventy years, I being one occupied with producing great sweet sound, Uribe is the king of us all. Love to hear him.
This version always puts a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye from the sheer beauty of his playing. Two masters at work here, The Composer and the Performer. It just doesn't get any better.
So glad a younger generation gets to hear one of the real masters of the trombone. Check out the end of this track where he is playing in harmony with himself. So many of his recordings are lost in the vaults of some record company. Thank God for You Tube.
The mark of a great trombonist; Urbie could, and did, play ANY music and make it sound sensational. Many people do not like classical adaptions played with a vibrato, but Urbie just sings! It sounds beautiful with his touch of vibrato becuase it is not over done. He could play a great vibrato using his slide, or just with his lips. I saw him play, spoke with him, and he is a humble man that just loves playing the trombone -and WHAT a trombonist!
I've always wondered if Urbie Green and Bill Pearce knew each other. They were certainly contemporaries. I would have loved to have heard them together.
Ahhhh yes - the high note ( 2:35 ). When I was a teen I had his Album and I practiced and practiced this song after bringing it down about a half octave so I could play it. He's the best. Simple the best.
A top D (tenor clef) is my take on the high note to which you refer. I may be wrong, and if so, someone please let me know. Urbie makes it all seem so effortless. JD
I played this exact arrangement for my sister's wedding about 25 years ago. Yes, the high F was demanding, particularly after the non stop playing that preceeds it, but sure worth the effort!
So Sad to hear of my Trombone hero's passing. My Dad ( he was a professional trombone player ) buying this record in 1973 is what inspired me to become one too. RIP to you Urbie and your golden sound......
I am just now, 40 years later, realizing the profound effect he has had on my playing style and range. He's the Paul Desmond of trombone!! BTW, I played this exact arrangement of "Ave" for my sister's wedding years ago, and the Pathetique might be my very favorite of his renditions. thanks so much for posting....wish ALL aspiring young players could experience this man.
Very well put. It's like Sinatra: there's no close 2nd, and there's no defining the qualities that make both vastly superior, except maybe a total commitment to the song at hand, the profound depth of feeling, and the subjugating of that feeling to the material; not trying to assert the self above it..
A trombone player's "trombone player" , saw him play as a featured soloist in a park in Huntington Village, NY. mid 70's. Won't ever forget that mellow tone and slide moving, love the adaptation of Beethoven. Thank you so much for posting this, Happy Holidays and god bless you.
Urbie was the gold standard for trombone virtuosity. It seemed that every performance was effortless. I think only those who have played (or tried to play) the trombone can really understand the skill required to sound like Urbie.
Crikey! I just came across this comment of mine from two years ago. 'Turbie to to turbie? I must have been drunk. WW is Billy Watrous, of course, but I think what I meant to say was 'why didn't you ever go toe to toe with WW?'. IMO, those two guys dominated trombone playing back then, yet I never saw them perform together. I've always considered that to be a bit strange. It would have been a great show. JD
