Review

Nathaniel Cleophas "Shorty" Davis
Oh Slip It Man: A Trombone Novelty

Arranged by Aaron Hettinga

Trombone and piano

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 1916 / 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and solo part.

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Nathaniel Cleophas "Shorty" Davis was a prominent, early 20th Century African American trombonist. He served in WWI as a musician in the 368th Infantry Regiment, one of four regiments entirely comprised of African Americans. Upon returning from the war, he returned to the musical career he had fashioned as a composer, band leader, publisher, performer, and teacher. Oh, Slip It, Man! is from a group of ragtime pieces for band that Davis composed, featuring trombone “smears.”

Aaron Hettinga has arranged this delightful work for trombone solo and piano. The piece is in march form with a trio, and the solo part merges melodies originally in the band parts with the featured trombone part. It is not difficult. A high school level trombonist will find its demands challenging but reasonable, but all will find it enjoyable. As you would expect of a piece in ragtime style, the solo part contains sixteenth-note motion, syncopation, and of course showcases the glissando. An F attachment will be needed because several of the glissandi can only be performed with the valve engaged. Although it ends on an optional high b-flat2, most of the part stays within the staff.

This arrangement is about three minutes long with repeats and the trombone plays continuously throughout except for scattered single measures of rest. The publication is carefully and clearly fashioned. Hettinga provides slide position instructions for each of the glisses, and articulation and dynamic suggestions are clearly marked. The piano part is taken from accompanimental band parts and will be accessible to an advanced-intermediate pianist. It is easy to envision this as a crowd-pleasing closer. Who wouldn’t want to end a recital with the shout, “Oh slip it, man!”?