[Trombone-l] ETW 2008

[John.McVey@frb.gov]

I haven't seen any messages on the Trombone List about this yet, but the
Eastern Trombone Workshop was held March 13-15th at Ft. Myer, VA.  I
personally thought it was one of the best of the last few years. While
there did not appear to be as many exhibitors as in past years, all the
major manufacturers were represented and there were plenty of horns and
mouthpieces to try out. I thought the talent lineup was superb. MSG Jerry
Amoury did an outstanding job organizing and bringing in some fabulous
individuals and groups.  A perennial favorite, Harry Watters and the Swamp
Romp was put on this year in support for Habitat for the Humanities and the
efforts toward rebuilding New Orleans.  As usual, his group was fantastic
and very energizing, a great way to kick off the festivities on Jazz
Friday. It was also special that Bill Watrous and Rob Stoneback were in the
audience and went up on stage to jam a couple of tunes.

Of course, the Capitol Bones were fantastic, and they had a special treat
this year. They brought in a "Sub" for Jim McFalls, who apparently could
not be with us this time, some "little-known hack from NY" (NOT!!), the
great Conrad Herwig!!  As expected, he was tremendous and added a whole
another dimension to the Capitol Bones playing.  The Army Blues followed
from 8:00-10:00 on Friday night and the headliner Jazz artist with them was
Bill Watrous. He was fabulous!!  It was SRO in the main auditorium with
sill-over into the halls and in the Minor Studio where it was broadcast on
the big screen. The concert was also broadcast via streaming video
world-wide on the internet. It certainly was a Friday night to remember.
Watrous came back Saturday afternoon for a 1 1/2 hour "Master Class" in
which he simply played and told stories.

For me, though, the highlight of the workshop was the Viento Sur Trombone
Quartet from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here is their website:
http://www.vientosurtrombones.com/en.htm.  Conrad Herwig "warned" everyone
Friday night that this group was not to be missed and they would redefine
your preconceived notions of what was possible to be played on the
trombone. I think they lived up to the hype. Their performance was
spirited, funny, lively, and simply wonderful. They played a number of
uniquely arranged tangos and other Latin pieces that were just
mind-blowing.  Here's a quote from their website:  "The Viento Sur Trombone
Quartet is an innovating group, in constant search of a powerful and
original sound, that combines their own version of the repertoire for
trombone quartet and the adaptation of the tangos and milongas that are
part of the musical and cultural roots of Argentina."   My wife joined me
for the Saturday afternoon sessions, and while she is not the "typical
trombone junkie" who goes to these conferences, she was enchanted by this
group, not only with their playing, but also by their personalities. They
were obviously having a great time performing for a knowledgeable audience
and taking advantage of a unique opportunity to showcase the music and
culture of their homeland.

Overall, it was a very successful workshop and an enjoyable experience.
Congratulations to Jerry Amoury and all the staff at Ft. Myer who made it
happen!

I look forward to seeing and hearing how they're going to top it for next
year!

John