Review

Randy Aldcroft
Beginning Jazz Duets for Trombones:

Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2015
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Jazz Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

Beginning Jazz Duets is a collection of 12 duets that are fun for both professionals and students. Randy Aldcroft is an L.A. based composer/arranger and trombonist. He has composed and performed for many jazz, classical, stage, and film projects. All duets are written in bass clef with a comfortable range spanning from F to g1. Most of the duets are homorhythmic and consist of standard jazz rhythms. This provides an opportunity for teachers to enforce ensemble matching to their students which is essential for big band section playing. Articulations and tempi are included throughout to help the performer interpret the various styles. Blues, Bossa Nova, Soft Shoe, Rhythm Changes, Rock, Ballad, and Waltz are featured in this collection. Including chord changes would have benefited students seeking to enhance their understanding of the Blues and Rhythm Changes progressions. Aldcroft presents the duets in manageable key signatures. C, F, B-flat, and E-flat major are frequent with instances of F and D minor as well. The majority of the duets are no longer than two pages in length and are presented in score format with clear and nicely spaced font. Beginning Jazz Duets for Trombones is a great addition to the jazz duet catalogue; students will enjoy Randy Aldcroft’s excellent writing.

-Anthony Williams
University of Northern Iowa