Slide Trombone – Studio and live version of “Measure of a Man” and People in your Life World Tour 2018
Music has played a significant role in my life for as long as I can remember. I have the fondest memories going with my parents to see Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald as a child. Before the age of 10, I saw some of the jazz greats. Like many people, I started studying the piano. A few years later, I switched to the recorder because I got tired of practicing the piano and my mom said I had to play something. In high school, I took up the trombone. Why the trombone you might ask? My older brothers played sax and French horn so no point in going there. Some of the best athletes had already chosen the trumpet so how could I compete with them (flawed logic but it made sense at the time). My oldest brother told me the trombone was cool. I said, really? And he said, yes. So, I started to play this most unforgiving instrument and realized quickly that I needed to take proper lessons if I truly wanted to get better and started trotting downtown to McGill every week. From there, I played in multiple ensembles at Vanier College and then at McGill where I recorded a solo feature with the senior jazz band under the direction of Gerry Danovitch. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of playing with terrific musicians in many places in multiple styles including jazz, classical, pop, R&B, blues, Mexican, Haitian and Klezmer.
Many people stop playing music after high school. In my case, I never stopped. While I don’t play music full time, I continue to be involved with many groups and still have lots of fun. Essentially, where I go so does my horn.