Bill Watrous trombone solo ''Softly as I Leave You'' from his first solo album

Bill Watrous trombone solo ''Softly as I Leave You'' from his first solo album In Love Again

[@rosskoning]

This was an amazing trombonist; we lost a fabulous example. Rest in Peace after leaving us softly!

[@charlesmoak504]

Once in a century or millennium you witness someone who has no peers. I first heard him in 1968. I was twenty years old. I couldn't believe it. I still can't. Nevertheless, Bill is among us. We're grateful.

[@theressamurphy2996]

The best Trombone music that I have ever heard😍💖 What a gift this man was.

[@mmcs4973]

This is one of my favorite songs ever, but I've never heard this version, simply stunning

[@geraldnichols2722]

I've never seen a photo of Bill like that one on the cover! He probably was mistaken for Urbie Green often when he looked like that IMO. Beautiful sound as usual. RIP Bill. I pray you and Urbie are playing duets in Heaven.

[@putzgadol]

Nobody on any instrument plays ballads as good as this man. His attacks and releases are perfection.

[@mattburgess9312]

I started trombone in 1967.My dad heard this album in his car by 1968 at the latest. We couldn't find it in discount and department stores back then unfortunately. On the flip side I have met Bill and seen him in concert 4 times

[@michaelburgess8184]

Another trombone Burgess brother !

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

Bill's 1st album. Recorded around 1965-1967. His sound and vibrato were the most beautiful I have ever heard,before or since.

[@markhickup5811]

My dad an I (mostly me) always tried to find the playing of this on FM radios easy listening stations: loved it. I have seen Bill in concert since 1975 and have taken many of my trombone students to hear him play. Splendid playing tone, a nice guy as i had met him on several occasions. I listen every day to this as well remembering my dad.

[@neil9983]

If I hadn’t read the intro, and closed my eyes while listening, I would surely think I was hearing Bill Pearce.

[@bobgilbert7362]

Bill Watrous is a marvelous musician and master of the trombone. I like this sound on this recording so much better than later on when he seemed to have adopted playing extremely close to the microphone which resulted in a muffled tone. I assumed that he did this so that he could play a whole lot of notes within a given time frame, at very low volume. I had occasion to attend several times an annual jazz festival at which both Watrous and Urbie Green were performing. I carried along a batch of old LPs of each of them, and got them to sign. Urbie was the model that I attempted to emulate as a young player. Of course, I never came close. Watrous came along later. I learned at a Watrous concert that he is also an accomplished whistler.

[@larrysmith6797]

I agree with you, Bob. I've heard Bill live a few times and actually played in a big band with him. Great lead and jazz player but I never got into that muffled mic-in-the-bell sound on ballads. Kind of sounds like he's warming up off mic. I'm an Urbie fan and bought a new Urbie Green Martin Tenor Trombone in the '80s.

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

In my opinion, Watrous ruined his beautiful sound after this first album, by insisting on on playing everyting with the mike too far up his bell. Why in the name of God did he do this. He had the most beautiful natural sound of anybody.

[@raulomargarcia]

such great finesse! Reminds me of Dave Steinmeyer playing.

[@Kingtrombone100]

Urbie Green admired Bill, for he was the only other trombonist that came even close to his beautiful sound. I met, and played, with a very good student of Bill's about ten years ago in Philli, and you know what? Rod sounds like Bill! Just stunning.

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

Joe Howard and Si Zentner were 2 Hollywood studio players of the old west coast school of very fast vibrato (1950's) who both had beautiful trombone sounds. Don Lusher from England was another beautiful player. Bill knew all these guys.

[@johnalmeida3131]

Really beautiful!

[@neil9983]

Actually Green and Watrous both emulated Bill Pearce, who was not so well known because he performed Sacred/Gospel music. Listen on KZbin and compare.

[@brianthompson2089]

One of the tb greats! Up there with Bill Pearce!

[@geraldnichols2722]

Thanks for mentioning Bill Pearce! I don't see enough praise for his work.

[@nwoods58]

Interesting that you should mention Bill Pearce. I had listened to a lot of his trbn recordings, but I gained a whole new level of respect one time when I was privileged to give Urbie a ride to the airport after a concert. I asked him who he learned his style from and he said Bill Pearce was the most lyrical trbn player he had ever studied. Just... wow.

[@gusvespa]

THANK YOU for posting these songs. i've had a couple of copies of this great album since 1981, and actually met the woman to whom it was dedicated. i think his lungs were actually a pair of huge air compressors, lol.

[@bwade8786]

Nice. Very nice.

[@ducciocastelli7560]

Daniel.. that is the effect of the large vibrato, and also his personal taste, that sustains the key to give it a special brilliant impact, a brighter colour. In a way, it is something that when it comes to timing (and swing appears), could make a classic teacher say that the metronome is not continously and strictly respected. Mind you: Watrous is a Jazzman!

[@larrysmith6797]

I've never seen a picture of Bill without his Moe haircut. I used to run into him at Rob Stewart's Instrument Repair. Rob showed me a mangled Bach slide once. Bill was in his hotel room cleaning his slide and decided to lift it up into the light to check for tiny dings. He forgot the ceiling fan was on and the outer slide was ripped from his hands and took two laps of the room before falling on the floor.

[@geraldnichols2722]

Trombonists are nuts over their slide-action because it means everything to how one plays IMO. Years ago, I met Benny Green in Chicago (Beehive Club) where he had a gig. I asked him if I could hold his horn. He let me and I could hardly move the slide up and down. It escapes me how he could play such a horn.

[@jesseadocnascimento1232]

Bravo.!!!!!

[@Opi370Z]

Such a beautiful piece to play! I play this everyday. I've always wanted to meet Bill.

[@luigianguiani]

¡¡¡BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@hartnell1000]

This is so good-why is there no CD of this fantastic music.

[@noopieflace]

Watrous is like Buddy Rich. Nobody is or will ever be better at their chosen instrument. Some people are born to do what they do. To deny us of their talent would be a crime!

[@martin1024]

Wise words!

[@monkeyman41333]

Sorry, but I beg to differ. Urbie Green was the best Trombonist in my opinion. Bill Watrous was an incredible player, but Urbies tone was to die for.

[@geraldnichols2722]

@@monkeyman41333 No comparison would be made by true afficianos IMO. Also, I am a trombone player and wouldn't think of favoring one over the other.

[@fhcidtx]

Nah, buddy rich isn't as good as other drummers tbh

[@luigianguiani]

Gracias maestro por ser parte de mi inspiración.

[@matheusgalvao8333]

LINDÍSSIMA MELODIA Que trombonista top !meu exemplo

[@edwardskwarczynski4726]

Fantastisk trombons klang and cello vibratto.Their talent

[@paulwilhoit9677]

"Richard Behrke Strings" He was Bobby Darin's manager/arranger.

[@davidkapral1486]

Rest In Peace

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

Holy...

[@BassboneNelson]

Wow

[@pverskine]

RIP

[@eivindstraume1429]

Amazing solo, anyone knows were I can buy this arrangement?

[@josephwright8752]

Eivind Straume I’m arranging it for someone right now, contact me at [e-mail]

[@MrNflander]

I'm assuming late '60s?

[@MrNflander]

What year was this album recorded.

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

Between 1965-1967 or thereabouts. Bill's first and best album in my opinion.

[@m.j.mcilroy5470]

app. 1965-1967

[@3OrMoreBones]

I like the sound, but my ear is saying that he's sharp.

[@michaelburgess8184]

Dan The human mind/ear tolerates sharp notes better than flat. Most good players will tend to play above the pitch to be sure its not flat. A famous trumpeter one said " better to play sharp rather than play out of tune." LOL

[@geraldnichols2722]

@@michaelburgess8184 Interesting! I have played for about 68 years and never heard that before! I have (on the other hand) heard from Urbie Green that he tunes his horn sharp so that 1st position can have room for vibrato.

[@michaelburgess8184]

@@geraldnichols2722 Thats correct / called extended tuning