This also helps yield more room for the plunger to cover the pixie mute. Oct 21, 2008 trombonist al grey was famous as the last of the big time plungers, for his mastery at using a plumbers plunger to manipulate the color of his instrument. The site is easy to use and the ebooks are easy to download. We investigated five topquality grey plungers over the past 2 years. Al grey was born in aldie, virginia and grew up in pottstown, pennsylvania. The al grey plunger method for trombone and trumpet. Johnson with al grey jazz at the philharmonic 1983 eddie lockjaw davis with harry sweets edison and al grey centerpiece live at the blue note. During world war ii he served in the navy where he started playing the trombone. The result is greys style, a combination of swingera rhythm and bravado with the technique and fire of bebop. Theres plenty to say about plunger technique, but the best advice i can give you is. Al grays book on plunger technique recommends cutting the corks down on the pixie mute so the mute inserts farther into the bell. He preferred the salty, talkative vigour of the earlier trombone practitioners in a new orleans style, like duke ellingtons. Im definitely into using electronics and combining it with a bluesy feela plunger has more of a traditional sound, going back to new orleans, and this combines older elements and some modern, futuristic ideas.
In later years, grey performed and recorded often with clark terry, made a cd with the statesmen of jazz, and for a time led a quintet that featured his son mike grey on second trombone. I dont think about it that way, im using feel and sound to guide me. Trombonist al grey and his musical sons upi archives. Plunger techniques by sheet music for buy print music. Grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable only to tricky sam nanton, bob hunt and wycliffe gordon, and also wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques. Al grey, after his death at age 74, left a large impression on the jazz community, especially the trombone world. Apr, 2016 urbie green lets face the music and dance 1958 full vinyl lp duration. When al greys song michael graduated from the berklee college of music and came back from a. Sometimes a very small movement will create interesting overtone variations. Trombonist al grey was highly regarded as the last of the big time plungers thanks to his skill at using a plumbers plunger to manipulate tones coming from the bell of his trombone. I figured why should i be the only one to learn something from it. His four sidemen in the new al grey quintet are second. Al greys approach to improvisation was sculpted by early influences in his career, including the unique plunger work of. Mainstay of count basie orchestra perfected the plunger mute style.
I create all the ebooks myself, as well as the design for the site. Both groupsan octet and a nonetdisplay that warm, moving blues feeling that characterized the basie band, with all the soloists blowing with surefooted intensity alongside the tastefully swinging leader. The plunger articulations are wa wa or ja ja and the opposite openclose or opentight closed. Al grey, bobby huthcerson, calvin newborne having a ball music. When al grey s song michael graduated from the berklee college of music and came back from a road tour with aint misbehavin he still did not have facility in playing the plunger. Trombonist al grey was famous as the last of the big time plungers, for his mastery at using a plumbers plunger to manipulate the color of his. How come you do me like you do writtenby austin, bergere 2. If you do that, you can figure out the technique on your own. Al grey, 74, a sly trombonist who played with count basie. Al grey created several musical groups, but was best known for his association with the count basie orchestra.
To educate future generations about the plunger technique, al grey cowrote with mike grey a manual on the subject entitled, plunger techniques. Al grey june 6, 1925 march 24, 2000 was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the count basie orchestra. Dont get around much anymore writtenby russell, ellington 3. For instance, even the use of a toilet plunger as a mute warranted a book called plunger mute techniques by al grey. Al grey news, music performances and show video clips mtv. Both groups an octet and a nonet display that warm, moving blues feeling that characterized the basie band, with all the soloists blowing with surefooted intensity alongside the tastefully swinging leader.
Al grey is the trombones reigning plunger meisterand he knows it. Been trying to track it down for my students and for my library. Does anyone happen to have al greys plunger method book for. Selection of transcribed materials was based on an examination of historically significant solos in al grey s fiftyfiveyear career. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book called plunger.
He played with a number of the top orchestras of the postwar jazz era, including benny carter, count basie. Im trying to find this book but it seems impossible in europe. Al s always been an invaluable resource, and always been very supportive. Grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable. October 21, 2008 trombonist al grey was highly regarded as the last of the big time plungers thanks to his skill at using a plumbers plunger. Grey is known for his plunger mute music technique comparable only to tricky sam nanton and wycliffe gordon, who also wrote an instructional book called read more. Al grey, reigning dean of plunger style jazz trombone players, has four reasons he stays on the road. So naturally, grey is at his best in live performances, where he is able to reach out to an audience and hold it spellboundand especially when he pulls out his trademark plunger. The digital transcription software amazing slow downer by roni music aided in deciphering some of grey s more complicated passages and, with octave displacement, helped bring previously inaudible moments to the foreground.
Count basie, harry edison, al grey, illinois jacquet, jay mcshann. Does anyone happen to have al greys plunger method book for download. Plunger techniques by al grey and mike grey ebook close. Will cutting the mute down that much make the lower register pitches stabilize. Al grey the last of the big plungers 2 lps on 1 cd. Basie said, yes, hes the fabulous one, grey recounts, fabulissimo, fab. After getting out of the service, he was with the orchestras of benny carter 19451946, jimmie lunceford 19461947, lucky millinder, and lionel hampton off and on during 19481953. Mike grey like his father, the legendary al grey, mike grey is an accomplished trombonist. Al grey s trademark phrases and often humorous use of the plunger mute long made him quite distinctive. It was count basie who dubbed al grey as fab one night on the bandstand after one of his plunger features brought down the house.
Al grey, who has died aged 74, was one who heeded ballietts caution. It sounds like some kind of horn going through electronicsand a plunger trombone. Al grey was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the count basie orchestra. The trombonist al grey, a member of the count basie band through various stretches from 1957 to 1977 and a strong, humorous improviser, died on friday at a hospital in scottsdale, ariz. Mar 21, 2017 al grey breathing and my sound, from an interview 12498. Tricky sam nanton, lawrence brown, and al grey are some classic trombone plunger. Al grey was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the count basie orchestra al grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable only to tricky sam nanton, bob hunt and wycliffe gordon, and also wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques.
Al grey, bobby huthcerson, calvin newborne having a ball. Plunger techniques by sheet music for buy print music hl. He has recorded many albums as a leader and continues to record and tour. Al grey june 6, 1925 march 24, 2000 was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the count basie orchestra grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable to tricky sam nanton, bob hunt and wycliffe gordon, and also wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. He was a worldclass musician, and he went out at the top of the. I only found that its available on a library in australia. Its a pretty rare book, it took me over a year to track it down. A great if littleknown lp, this set by trombonist al grey features him with other count basie sidemen eddie higgins fills in on piano playing three standards and tunes by frank foster, thad jones, and grey himself. Audio at videos at things are getting better all the time j.
Al grey strombone talk largely enhanced the already rich language of jazz. It was then that al decided to write the plunger techniques book. Grey, famed for his plunger mute work, plays vigorously and inventively. The al grey plunger method for trombone and trumpet new york, c1987. Discussion in trumpet discussion started by rinconcito, nov 4, 2015. It only took me 3 hours to scan this afternoon haha. The results are a series of openhorn and plunger solos that showcase grey s sound, techni cal brilliance, and wide range of dynamics and articulation. Al grey died in phoenix, arizona, on march 24, 2000.
Learn how to play the plunger from a master of the art. Grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable to tricky sam nanton, bob hunt and wycliffe gordon, and also wrote an instructional book called plunger. Sam nanton and the technical innovations pioneered by j. Plunger techniques grey, al grey, mike second floor music. Grey is known for his plunger mute music technique comparable only to tricky sam nanton and wycliffe gordon, who also wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques. See this page for a list of al grey s published music. You can also narrow by model, type, brands and material or choose one of our grey plunger feature picks.
Grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable to tricky sam nanton, bob hunt and wycliffe gordon, and also wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques. In other words, a horny guy who knows a lot about plunging, again no thank you, and again grey sounds and looks a lot like gary. Al greys plunger technique book does not recommend it as his method utilizes five different positions of the plunger and the hole affects some of these positions. Al grey, 74, a master trombonist known for his often humorous use of the plunger mute. The dawning introduction, the equipment, playing the plunger, the five positions positions be position a, positions b. Hundreds of books, articles, and doctoral dissertations have been written about every aspect of the trumpet, no matter how minor, trivial, or obscure. Al grey june 6, 1925 march 24, 2000 was a jazz trombonist who was a member of the count basie orchestra. At first glance, grey, his faced etched with character, resembles a sleepy hound dog. Al grey was best known for his unique plunger mute style. Grey is known for his plunger mute technique comparable only to tricky.
Al grey biography international jazz collections ijc. Methods learned from the study of al grey s book plunger techniques were vital in the realization of his work. Mar 24, 2000 al grey june 6, 1925 march 24, 2000 was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the count basie orchestra. Global grey has been around for about 8 years now, and right from the start, its been a one woman operation. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book called plunger techniques. Toilet plunger double thrust force cup suction with. Al grey, the prolific jazz trombonist whose unique plunger mute style was recorded on nearly 100 albums, died friday. Al grey june 6, 1925 march 24, 2000 was a jazz trombonist who is most. I know al grey s book plunger techniques gives instructions to cut down the cork until the mute is flush with the bell and i plan to do this along with his other recommendations. This collection includes performances from a mix of widely available and obscure recordings, the majority coming from engagements with the count basie orchestra. As a widely acclaimed jazz trombonist, al has demonstrated his unique plunger talents with a variety of different bands, most notably with count basie.
664 109 954 1001 1165 653 534 1329 453 1368 1268 1034 790 1428 1327 325 873 313 1251 389 453 161 1131 236 374 736 65 745 1383 1157 952 924 1498 602 779 606 1113 1176 606