Hey Tom ,
This is my return to trombone ,after 8 years ,Story !
I started playing trombone in 10th grade for the stage band in H.S. Having
played baritone and tuba , the trombone was a natural fit ! Made 1st chair
All-state Jazz band my senior year then to college with a music ed. scholarship
!
I decided that I was not a good enough trombone player to persue a professional
performing career and I didn't want to teach High school band , so I quite
school and with little learning time I began playing electric bass in a rock
band . My King 3-b Silversonic sat in the closet while I bounced from rock band
to metal band to New wave band and finally a three piece instrumental
(gtr,bass,drums,no vox) rock band playing originals and covers !
There was a Blues jam session going on at a local club and I wanted to meet new
musicians so I checked it out . I never got to sit in because there was always a
long waiting list to play bass . The next week , I took my horn out of the
closet and lubed the slide and gave it a shot !
Not good ! My chops were gone , I thought !
I worked on some flexibility exercises for a few days . My tone had changed
quite a bit ,and my range was terrible ! Low E to G above the staff ! That was
it !
I decided to take my horn to the Blues jam . I checked in with the band leader
and he had me on the stage in twenty minutes ! I never took my bass again . I
met some guys putting together a Cajun/Blues band . I got to play washboard and
I was the only horn player ! We averaged 120 gigs a year for 6 years . Still my
range has not come back .But now I play within my abilities and I'm currently
playing Trombone in a Rock/Soul/Blues band playing all originals . No covers and
I write my own parts !
With this new group I have been able to realize my dream ! I have performed at
Tippitina's in New Orleans 4 times during Jazzfest, New York at B.B.Kings Club,
9:30 Club-D.C. , Vegas in a casino for a month and throughout the Southeast !
We have opened for Bonerama in New York ,James Brown in Orlando ,
B.B.King-Orlando, Col. Bruce Hampton-Macon , Bad Company-Orlando, Stanton
Moore-Howlin'Wolf-New Orleans , Dirty Dozen Brass Band-New Orleans , Cowboy
Mouth-all over, MOFRO-all over ,
Moonshine Still , Robert Randolph , Robrt Walters Heavy Organ , The Black Keys ,
Particle , and a bunch of others !
I've also been able to have some of these great musicians sit in with the band !
The highlight has to be when Sam Rivers(Jazz Legend) sat in during our opening
slot for B.B.King and when Blues legend Sonny Rhodes jumped on stage with us
unannounced even !
Our next big shows will be 3 festivals (Sweetwater-Milledgeville,GA opening for
Karl Denson, Voodoofest-Memphis,Tenn. opening for Dr.John and Down on the
Farm-Quincy,FL.
I never expected the trombone to be the instrument that would take me to all of
these places but I'm really glad that I took her out of the closet that one day
and worked on my blues scales ! So my suggestion is to go out and blow through
as many horns that you can until you find the right one . Put some time in on
the horn and see what happens !
Play within your ability and always remember to breathe !
Good Luck and keep us posted !
Clay Watson - Trombone -The Legendary J.C.'s - www.thejointchiefs.com



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