Review

Randy Aldcroft
Twelve Jazz & Rock Duets for Trombones:
2 trombones

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Etude book

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

Los Angeles-based trombonist Randy Aldcroft performed and recorded with many jazz and popular icons on stage and in the studio and now presents his duet etudes built on his experience in jazz and rock styles. The pieces capture all the syncopations you’d expect to find on the bandstand.

The music is presented entirely in bass clef in a non-classical font typical of many show-books and yet quite clear. Each duet spans only two pages; so no page-turns are needed during a performance. Chord changes are present throughout for analysis and optional improvisation (none required). While no dynamics are indicated, the tempi, articulations, and areas to breathe are noted. Meters include both 4/4-based sixteenth lines and cut-time eighth-note lines for equal training. While all the duets could be performed even-eighth, several could be interpreted in swing style as well. Two etudes in 3/4 offer additional variety, as do the changing key signatures in the book, spanning three flats to none.

These duets include a range of difficulty: some can be easily played by a typical high school freshman, while other pieces are more typical of a high school senior or college level player. The majority of the tunes are presented in rhythmic unison, with less than 20% of the passages in call and response. While not developing independent rhythmic reading, this makes it easier for the players to recognize quickly if someone’s not reading correctly. Harmonizations are mostly in thirds or sixths for consonance. The lead part ascends occasionally to c² but more typically only to a¹. The second parts do not require a trigger or bass trombone, spanning A up to g¹.

This is an excellent book for building syncopation-chops and for sight-reading in pairs. No demo recordings are available. But, as with many Cherry Classics products, including nearly 20 other works by Aldcroft, the book is available at a range of pricing for download and/or print-shipping as well as on iTunes and Kindle as an iBook.