Trombone for Lovers


Trombone for Lovers is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd featuring Rudd playing well-known tunes in a broad range of ensemble contexts, with varying personnel. It was recorded at various locations, and was released by Sunnyside Records in 2013.

Reception

In a review for PopMatters, Brent Faulkner wrote: "Track after track, Rudd's musicianship and sharpness impresses, making Trombone for Lovers shine radiantly."
David Whiteis of Jazz Times stated: "Rudd's timbral and emotional range is as diverse as ever, and his gnarled imprecations keep pop ballads... and novelty-tinged offerings... from getting too cute."
Writing for Latin Jazz Net, Raul Da Gama described the album as "a look at timeless standards, by which he has made them timeless again, re-creating them completely with all their ageless beauty, making them ripple through the flesh and the bone; through body and soul, touching the very nerve endings of the body with notes that are charged with emotion in every muted growl and angular human smear."
Tom Hull commented: "With the 'Joe Hill' suite at the end, this could have been called Trombone for the Masses: I don't mind the rapper there but the NYC Labor Choir takes some getting used to even though I feel like saluting the political point. Everything else is just superb."
Jeff Simon of The Buffalo News remarked: "Here is one of the goofiest jazz discs you'll encounter in a while. All of Rudd's muting – with plungers and otherwise – can't disguise the cognitive dissonance of his use of the trombone as yearning instrument of love."

Track listing

  1. "Ghost Riders in the Sky" – 3:10
  2. "Here, There and Everywhere" – 3:33
  3. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" – 2:46
  4. "Trouble in Mind" – 5:15
  5. "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" – 2:11
  6. "Sleep Walk" – 3:01
  7. "Autumn Leaves" – 3:37
  8. "Green Onions" – 5:27
  9. "Tennessee Waltz" – 3:57
  10. "Come Sunday" – 4:49
  11. "Unchained Melody" – 4:30
  12. "September Song" – 3:26
  13. "Funky Little Sweet Thing - Slow Dance for Fast Times" – 4:00
"Joe Hill" : four versions:
  2. "Joe Hill: Trombone Solo with Piano Accompaniment" – 3:31
  3. "Joe Hill: NYC Labor Chorus and Soloists" – 1:46
  4. "Joe Hill: The Relentless Walk" – 3:53
  5. "Joe Hill: Joe Hill Will Never Die" – 0:34

Personnel