[Trombone-l] The Kenton 'bone sound.

[Adrian Drover]

> From: Chris Tune
> 
> Of course, it doesn't hurt that Stan had the largest bone section of the
> time.  Either 4 or 5 in the section most times.  Four in the Balboa days.


You've hit the nail on the head Chris.  Lead players came and went
contributing their own particular styles to the section, but from an
arranger's standpoint that sound is mainly provided by the size of the
section.  With a standard 4-piece section, soli work is mostly restricted to
close block and occasional drop-2 voicing.  With 5 'bones, especially in
ballad style charts, you can include the bass line in the voicing utilizing
an overall span of up to 2 octaves and a 6th.  That is one awesomely massive
sound.  The standard 5-piece sax section has always had this capability and
is great for the "Pastels" style of arrangement, but the 'bones can do it
with so much more majesty.

A.