Authentic Sounds of the Big Band Era: 2nd Trombone Book

Swinging, grounded, and purposeful. These arrangements carry you through the rollicking energy of uptempo numbers like Stompin' at the Savoy and Sing, Sing, Sing while giving you moments of warm lyricism on ballads like My Reverie. You feel the weight of the harmony beneath the soloists and ensemble figures.

Second trombone players in high school or college jazz ensembles who want to develop their role in authentic swing repertoire. This book works equally well for community big bands and rehearsal ensembles looking for period-appropriate literature with playable second trombone writing.

• Lock the harmonic framework with the baritone sax and tuba on ballads like Moonlight Serenade; the solidity of this low brass trio anchors the entire ensemble sound.
• Shape phrase endings with slight dynamic dips rather than immediate cutoffs on up-tempo swingers; let the line breathe into the next section.
• Practice the fast articulation passages in 720 in the Books separately at half tempo first, focusing on clean tongue placement before adding swing feel.
• Balance tone color between melody-carrying passages and harmonic backgrounds; the same technical facility should serve both roles.

Build a full big band concert around this collection by pairing it with 1st and 3rd trombone books from the same series, creating a unified sound across the section. It also works well as a semester project where students master one or two pieces monthly while learning era-appropriate stylistic conventions.

• Swing phrasing and articulation in 4/4 context
• Reading and playing harmonic progressions that support improvisation
• Balancing section blend when not carrying the melody
• Navigating fast scalar passages with clean articulation
• Understanding the second trombone's dual role as both harmonic anchor and secondary melodic voice