Review

Wes Hanson
Cabbagetown Blues:
trombones and rhythm section

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Jazz Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

Cabbagetown Blues, for five tenor trombones, bass trombone, piano/guitar, acoustic bass, drums, was originally composed years ago for the occasion of Ian MacDougall’s visit to Ball State University while Mr. Hanson was then on the faculty. The title comes from a historic and diverse neighborhood near downtown Toronto. Final editing, completed in 2008 by publisher Gordon Cherry, included the addition of an 8-bar improvised solo section for bass trombone.

This slow tempo blues in F features a 16-bar form with bridge, altered chord progression, unison and harmonized sections, and solo changes for tenor and bass trombone. Demands on performers include 2½ octave ranges, from c2 to A-flat in the first trombone part and c1 to AA-flat in the bass trombone part, triplet and duplet eighth notes in swing style, a variety of articulations, scoops and ghosted notes. All trombone parts are given in bass clef. The piano/guitar part indicates chord symbols as well as spelled out rhythms and chord voicings. The bass part is notated throughout and only shows chord changes during the improvised sections. This piece could be an interesting addition to a trombone choir recital and the altered progression provides food for thought for composers, arrangers and improvisers.

The composer originally studied with Frank Crisafulli at Northwestern University, went on to earn a Doctorate at the Eastman School of Music as one of the last students of Emory Remington, and currently stays active as a composer, keyboardist, singer, and performer of euphonium and trombone. His research into rare and unusual American Civil War music resulted in live performances and a compact disc that trace the course of the Civil War.

-Bradley J. Payne
Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra