Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Play-Along Series: Trombone: Trombone Book & Online Audio/Software

This series puts students in the actual chair beside working professionals from one of today's most respected big bands. Rather than playing to generic accompaniment tracks, trombonists hear real phrasing, real time feel, and real section interplay from Andy Martin and the Big Phat Band—and the included solo transcriptions let them study exactly how the pros navigate these charts.

The energy is modern and polished, reflecting the Big Phat Band's signature blend of precision and playfulness. You'll hear swaggering horn lines, intricate rhythm section grooves, and a sound that's equally at home in a concert hall or a packed jazz club.

Trombonists in grades 5-6 who are ready to explore jazz ensemble playing and want to study articulation, phrasing, and tone production from working professionals. This collection works for students developing improvisation skills and those looking to understand how a section player functions within a big band context.

• Study the recorded solos before your first run-through. Listening to how Andy Martin and band members approach phrasing and dynamics on each tune will anchor your interpretation before you add your voice.
• Lean into the style cues embedded in each arrangement. Latin grooves, swing feels, and articulation patterns shift from tune to tune; the performance notes from the band tell you what matters most for each piece.
• Use the chord changes provided for solo sections as a learning opportunity, not just a safety net. Work through the changes on your own staff paper first, then test your ideas against the recorded rhythm section.
• Lock your time feel to the rhythm section on the recording rather than rushing ahead. This develops the ability to sit in with real players and respond to their time rather than imposing your own.

Assign individual charts as supplemental materials for jazz ensemble players between rehearsals, or use the collection as a semester-long sequence for developing section musicianship and jazz vocabulary. The transcribed solos also work well as listening guides in music history classes exploring contemporary big band composition.

• Jazz articulation and phrasing in swing and Latin styles
• Reading and responding to chord changes in improvisation contexts
• Section playing and time feel with a recorded rhythm section
• Listening to and emulating professional trombonists' tone and dynamics
• Navigating complex big band voicings and ensemble balance