November 7, 2023 • 25 mins
We're doing something new! What is it? Great question! But it's new! So that's cool, right? Introducing Nick and Sebastian's first new weekly pod where they talk about trombone news, weekly gripes, answer questions and much more! Today we're lifting the lid on the long-debated topic of cut bells on trombones and also call out some bad personnel manager behavior. Lastly, we get into how the world is finally realizing that trombonists are the best lovers.
Email us questions and ideas at tromboneretreat@gmail.com
Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreat
Learn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat
Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (insta) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (insta)
Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera
Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz
Thank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, hello there and welcome to Nick.
What is this?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This is Riffin with Sebia Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Oh man, you just rift that title, I did.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That was hot off the dome.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm not sure that's going to stick, but that's what
this is going to be called today.
So Nick and I were looking atways of you know posting more
consistently.
We hear you, we're flatteredthat you want more episodes, and
we decided, hey, why don't wejust record a shorter form
(00:36):
weekly episode, just the two ofus, in addition to our long form
interviews?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, I think we'll see what this develops into.
It's going to be kind ofwhatever we want it to be for
content curators.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Oh, my God, just stop .
Well, we have a few things wewant to talk about today.
It's been a pretty busy weekfor me.
How's it been for you?
I would say middling, middling,as far as like how fun it's
been.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
No, just well, that too.
I had four performances at theMet and taught a bunch.
Taught a bunch this weekactually, and was it?
I think I got back fromPittsburgh a week.
I don't know when I got back.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, we had a fun little visit.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
That's right.
I was just in the Berg.
I stayed with Sebi, Sebi PopMasterson's.
It was beautiful.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You shouldn't compare me to a Masterson.
That's like a bad word rightnow.
That guy got in trouble, that70 show guy.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That's not Masterson, is it?
Yeah, isn't it Danny Masterson?
I thought it was Madison orsomething like that.
I'm going to go with MaddieMadison.
How about that Cool?
Do you know who Maddie Madisonis?
I don't know who's that.
He's a Canadian TV chef.
I mean, he's a real chef.
He has restaurants in Montrealor Toronto.
(02:03):
Yeah, wow, but he's a biggerthan life personality.
That's a great, great story.
Well, it's not my fault.
You don't know who Maddie?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Madison is.
So your trip was awesome.
You came and worked with mystudents at Duquesne and it was
great.
I taught some lessons in myhouse while I watched Netflix,
so my job was super easy.
But, yeah, come back more often, man, it's a short flight.
Yeah, my week's been kind ofweird too.
I've been playing a lot of opera.
(02:33):
We're actually playing FlyingDutchman right now, which is
crazy, because I've been in thePittsburgh Opera since 2011 and
this is the first Wagner thatwe've done, which might be
surprising to a lot of people,but those in the opera world
know that Wagner is one of themost expensive productions to
put on.
The sets are more expensive,the orchestra often.
(02:55):
You know longer operas, soyou'll have to pay the orchestra
more.
The singers are more expensive,because it's rare to find the
singers that can do that type ofsinging.
So you know it's one of theshorter ones, but it's exciting
that we're getting to do it.
So I've been doing that andthen mixing it with like
patriotic brass band show,sometimes in the same day, which
(03:15):
couldn't be more different.
One thing I do want to talk toyou about, though I have been
experimenting with a cut bell.
Some people call them, you knowscrew bells and I know you've
been playing on one for a while.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, you decided to.
You know, call them oil andhave a bris.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, I mean, I'm still experimenting and yeah,
you know, for a long time Ithought it was pretty much for
portability and travel, but whatI'm learning more now is it
really is a sound difference andit's a feel difference and it's
definitely taken me time to getused to it and there's definite
(03:57):
times where, if you play it thewrong way, it doesn't work.
But if you like, let go andtrust it.
It's like it's prettyincredible, like the core it
keeps.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
You know, yeah, like I actually bought mine I think
it was during the pandemic yeah,it was during the pandemic and
I bought it specifically withthe idea of portability, that's
like that's what I was going touse it for.
And then I got it and I startedrealizing I think I like this
better than my uncut belt,because I didn't cut my original
(04:29):
bell.
I bought one that was designedto be cut they.
They spin them a little bitdifferently so that it's like
the weight Addition of the ringwhere it screws in.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It's a better way to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, you have to like lighten it up in certain
areas so that the addition ofthat weight doesn't screw with
the whole like resonance of thebell and I mean.
No doubt they're different,right, but I just I found it
like better and I can't quiteexplain why and I doubt it'd be
better like across the board,like like every horn would be
better with a screw bell orevery horn is better without one
(05:05):
.
I think it's kind of case bycase and person by person, but
like I was definitely negativeon the idea of screw bells and
then I started trying one, or Ibought one and it was like whoa,
ok, I'm converted.
I mean, what's it do for you?
I feel like it like kind oflike brings in the walls of the
sound.
(05:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah it's, it's afeel thing, but it's also a
sound thing.
Like it does change it somehow,and for me I always found that
change to be better.
Like it helps me with control alittle bit more projection, it
doesn't hurt that.
It's really portable.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yeah, I mean that part's freaking amazing.
Like the first time taking aflight was just heaven and I've
always been a purist with mostthings.
Like I don't want anything onmy trombone like extra straps.
I really want to feel thevibration and I really want that
to be pure and that's why I waskind of against it too.
But it's in a way it's, if youthink about it holistically,
(06:04):
you're just putting an extralike weighted ring at a certain
point in your bell.
That just gives you more focusand power and if you blow it the
wrong way, I feel like thevibration can kind of get stuck
in there.
But if you think about like thesound, like resonating on the
outside of the bell, it's, it'skind of magical.
I definitely feel like itnarrows the sound a little bit,
so like it's at the veryslightest, like I don't hear
(06:27):
myself.
I feel like as well as I didwith my other bell.
But the feedback I'm getting isjust every everyone is
universally loving how it'ssounding.
So universally yeah,universally the entire world has
emailed me and told me whatthey think.
Speaking of the entire world,you want to hear the latest
(06:48):
trombone and Google news alerts?
Oh, boy, do I.
Okay, so this is going to be asegment on our show, riffing
with what we call this, riffingwith the bass and fudge master.
Yeah, okay, let's check.
Let's check, okay.
Trumbone shorty, trumbone,shorty, trumbone, shorty,
trumbone, shorty, trumbone,champ.
(07:09):
All right, that about sums itup.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Wow, man, what an amazing week for news in the
trumbone world.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Yeah, I'll keep on this and if you guys find any
good news, please send it to us.
We'll keep on this Breakingnews.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, so I mean we're going to say this again at the
end.
But yeah, please send us likeany interesting topics you'd
like to hear talked about thatyou find interesting, or like
articles that you find, or newsstories, whatever that are
trombone or music related orjust funny whatever.
We'll take a peek, give it agood old gander.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Speaking of segments, I think we'll also work.
Is GRIPE of the Week.
I got a GRIPE.
I got a.
Gripe, yeah, and just have achance to just, you know, air
your grievances.
Literally, I got a ripe gripe.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh, I want to hear it Okay.
Has this ever happened to you,John Sebastian Vera, where you
open your email and you see anoffer for a gig and you open it
up and it's like whatever thework offer is, and then it says
some variation of basicallyfirst come for a serve and then
(08:29):
you realize that that work offerhas been sent to like 20 people
.
Yep, nope, I don't even reply tothose.
Yeah, I don't either, and it'slike I understand.
If it's like I need someonetoday, there's an emergency and
I don't have time to wait foreverybody, that's, that's
extenuating circumstances.
But like I've gotten offerslike that for like a month away
(08:51):
and I'm just like like what thehell?
You know, you can't, you can'tjust like call one person.
It's so disrespectful, you knowto everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
It's like ringing ringing, ringing a dinner bell
and like come and get it.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Exactly, yeah, and it's usually almost exclusively.
They're not very good gigs tobegin with, right when
contractors hire that way.
So you know man, can peoplestop doing that?
Because I feel like there'sbeen an uptake in that lately.
Maybe it just feels that wayfor me, but it's been driving me
freaking nuts.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I think that is a legitimate first gripe.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
That's yeah, I mean that's, it's like a new personal
manager and they're like Idon't know why people waste all
this time emailing people one ata time, just email them all at
once, boom.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Settled.
Yeah, that's.
They're like life hacking, youknow.
They're like Tim Ferriss fourhour work week or whatever it's
called.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I'm even kind of annoyed even if it's last minute
, though, to get those, becauseI mean, no matter what, I'm
going to respond very quickly.
So if they're sending it lastminute, it also means they
didn't ask you first, which isanother thing.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Unless one of their like members of their group is
like, all of a sudden has to run.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
But well, that's well , hold on.
That's not necessarily truebecause, like what, if that's
their first step of hiringsomebody, they didn't even ask
an individual.
Like that's kind of assuming,if I understand you correctly,
that they asked one or twopeople and they're like, okay,
I'm done wasting time on this,and then they just ask like 15,
20 people at one.
But that could be like thefirst time.
(10:28):
Like the first time they'veasked anybody is everybody all
at once, and that's even worse.
So it's so ridiculous.
But yeah, there's a lot ofreasons why it's just so stupid.
It's lazy, it's disrespectful,it's like whatever.
I mean, I guess, past theissues, we all have issues, but
and all the personal managerslisten to our podcast.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I'm sure this will fix the problem.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Welcome, welcome to manage and orchestras with Nick
and Seb.
Why don't we just change ourpodcast name like this, this
segment's name, like 10 timesevery single episode.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I'm for it.
Well, until we settle on whatthis is called, and we are very
welcome to hearing suggestions.
So send us an email at tromboneretreat at gmailcom with any
news, articles or ideas forsegments where we're open and we
might have the occasionalguests pop on here for fun.
It's not gonna be the normallong form interview, but you
(11:26):
never know what's gonna happenon the Trombone Weekly.
That's what's so that's what.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
That's what's so exciting about the Trombone
space, you know so unexplored.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
We're like astronauts .
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You know, well, I just had an idea also that you
know we could come up with abunch of names and put them out
there and then have like a votefrom our public on which one's
the best, and then we can havelike a press conference
announcing the release of ournew name, and we could do it at
(11:59):
like FUD rockers in RockfordIllinois or something like that.
Did you just call?
Speaker 1 (12:04):
it FUD rockers, fud rockers, fud rockers.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
You get that right Well if you're going, if you're
going to the FUDs, you'rerucking up.
How dare you?
Don't desecrate the sacred nameof the Ruck.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Great burgers If you'd FUD rockers if you'd like
to sponsor the podcast.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, we're desperately looking for a beef
based sponsorship.
Oh yeah, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Forget all these music businesses, let's.
We need to get more into food.
Hey, I'm here for it.
Also, we'd love to have aquestion and answer segment, and
Trombone related whateverrelated were open to that.
So send us questions attromboneretreatgmailcom.
So this is the aim, for this isgoing to be weekly, so we found
(12:53):
that we're most free on Monday,so we're going to try to record
on Mondays, hopefully put itout shortly thereafter, because
we're just going to be perfectand I'm not going to need to
edit it because we're justseasoned podcasting
professionals.
On a closing note, nick, I'dlike to share with you an
article I've wanted to talk toyou about for a while.
It's the Mirror UK.
(13:14):
The Mirror, the Mirror.
I've I've trouble with double Rwords like R?
U R A L.
I can't say it.
Not going to try.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, it's like on 30 Rock they have the, the, the
show that Jenna's on, the moviethat Jenna's on called the rural
juror, and every word.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Not going to try to say that.
So the Mirror wrote an article.
You know they have Glenn Milleras the the photo for some
reason.
Classic.
Recently they had a poll wherethey asked 2000 people to choose
the type of musician thatthey've had the best sex with.
Clutch my pearls, and of coursethese had to be people that
(13:58):
have had sex with a musician.
Parents, put your children tobed if you haven't had that talk
yet.
So obviously I gave it awaywith the photo of Glenn Miller,
but topping the list of the top10 lovers of all musicians
Trumbonist at 16 percent.
Let's go Trumbonists, which youand I already know is true, but
(14:23):
it's just cool that the worldis catching on.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Oh, yeah, you know, just I turned the lights way
down low.
The lights way down low like myYamaha side.
Oil scented candles Poor.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Oh my God, can you imagine the poison that would be
?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It just felt like petroleum.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well that that lubricant already looks kind of
like something already that weall know.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
So, but that's another, that's another episode,
so the top that you want tohear the top 10.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
I want to hear the top 10.
Yeah, starting at number 10with five percent, is the
clarinet.
I'm personally I'm surprisedthat even crack the top 10.
Nine were drums drummers.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I guess we're talking I mean in good shape normally
you know, very physicalinstrument you know, physical
burn a lot of calories.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
They have good pacing , good rhythm.
They usually have very nicehair.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I'm thinking like metal drummers.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I guess when I think sexiness, I think less hair.
Personally, oh yeah, numbereight trumpet bullshit.
So I think that I think that'sif you, you know, you like, like
someone to take charge, be typeA and just you know, tell you
what to do all the time and putsome hips lips and nips into it.
Number seven Piano Pianists youknow more introverted, knows
(15:54):
how to work by themselves, goodwith their hands.
Checks out, I may or?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
may not be married to a pianist, so go on, that's
true.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Number six flute with 10%, little surprising.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I, uh, I have thoughts, but those are going to
be internal thoughts for now.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I mean, if you want someone maybe a little more on
the high strung area of thespectrum.
Lots of energy.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think it's pronounced as crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Wow, the flute podcasts are not going to be
happy with us.
Number five, kind of along thesame vein, is violin.
I think they're thinking moreromance, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, yeah, Like the earliest violin concerto.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, like serenade you before dinner.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Like that scene in red violin.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
That one scene.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Well, the scene where they open the door and they're
like he's playing the violinwhile they're making love.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Oh, yep, yep, yep, yep.
The guy that's like imitating.
Uh, what's Paganini?
Paganini, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Number four, which is a littlecliche saxophone.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I mean they do have the greatest horn riff of all
time is on a saxophone.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
If this was based on, like the 80s, where there was a
saxophone solo on every popsong ever, saxophone might be
number one.
I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, here's the other thing, and it's a very
important distinction that I'mkind of sensing some shoddy
journalism here.
To be honest, Saxophone needsto be defined as specifically
jazz saxophone, becauseclassical saxophone isn't
anywhere on this list.
I think you're, I think that'saccurate, and I know someone
(17:43):
who's going to be upset at mefor saying that I have to say
that E-Bear saxophone concertois as sexy as it gets for me.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
I personally like the E-Bear flute sonata so I mean
that's why they're both top tenNumber three, a bit of a
surprise the organ With 14%French horn.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
See, that can go either way.
French horn players are eitherlike really awesome and cool or
super high strong, becausethey're kind of like they're
like half trombone, because theycan play real low but then they
can play real high, so they'rekind of half trumpet personality
and you, you've got to run away.
If you talk to a French hornplayer that says oh, I consider
(18:26):
the French horn more of awoodwind instrument, Run away
People say that oh yeah, whatare you friends with?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Wow, yeah, I mean French horn a little of the
trumpet personality because it'sjust such a hard instrument and
so many solos.
They kind of got to be type A alot of the time, especially if
you're playing first or third.
But yeah, fourth horn, Top tenlovers yeah, yeah.
Fourth horn, that's probablythe best lover.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Okay, number two not surprised by this one guitar, oh
yeah, the classic guitar at abonfire.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Oh yeah, and the type of person you know, this person
that plays a guitar in asetting like that but makes just
strong eye contact with you thewhole time.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Mmm.
Now, this is one I will say.
The category of guitaristdoesn't matter, unlike saxophone
.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, any type of guitar classical guitar, you
could argue, is the sexiest in alot of ways.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I would say, like acoustic, james Taylor is
probably going to be the sexiestoverall to the widest amount of
people.
James Taylor does it for you,huh.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I like a tall ball drink of water from Long.
Island.
That's like softly it soundslike easy listening but he's
talking about like drugaddiction.
Yeah, it's like talking aboutwithdrawal from heroin.
Yeah, I've seen fire and I'veseen rain and then we come to
number one with trombone at 16%and you know, do I know why?
(20:02):
I mean, could I put into words?
I don't know.
I mean, how do you describecolors to someone who's
colorblind?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How do you?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
describe the smell of morning dew to someone who
doesn't have their sense ofsmell.
Michael Jordan played back.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Michael Jordan played basketball.
Tiger Woods played golf.
Tiger Woods played golf.
Trombone players loved.
I also have the bottom five,which is I think they nailed
this Okay.
Can I take a guess?
Because?
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I really don't know this.
Yeah, let's see how many in thebottom five you can guess.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, let's see how many in the bottom five you can
guess.
Yeah, let's see how many in thebottom five you can guess.
Um, oboe, oboe is number five,3%, that is.
That is.
That is accurate Bassoon?
Surprisingly no, but my guessis probably because most people
on the survey don't even knowwhat a bassoon is.
Okay, Viola.
(21:07):
Surprisingly no.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
But again, maybe same thing.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I think there could be an argument for Viola to be
in the top 10 instead of violin.
I mean number one is Tuba.
Yeah yeah nailed it 0.5%.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I didn't even guess.
I just told you that it is.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Sorry, Tuba players.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
You're working against the odds there.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
If enough people knew what a euphonium was, that
would be number one for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Yeah, let's just put euphonium and Tuba in the same
category.
Accordion Number two Very good,I'm surprised you got that one,
but you know Argentinian typeof stuff that can be a little
atherapythola.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Well, that's not accordion, that's bandonion.
Oh, that's right, bandonion,bandonion, okay.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Okay, so two more.
Okay, One surprising one andone that you probably won't
guess.
Huh, I would put theremin onhere for sure.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Herdy Gertie.
Oh God, I said bass.
Is that on there?
No, that's surprising too.
I feel like bass should be onthe top list.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Agreed.
Yeah For all the bass players.
I'm waiting for marriage, mom,don't worry.
Okay.
Number four yeah, cello, okay.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
All right, poppycock.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
You disagree?
Disagree.
Yeah, I think Cello is muchsexier than violin or flute.
Yeah, yeah.
And then number three, withonly 2% of the top five.
Worst is ukulele, but I mean,imagine a big, sexy Hawaiian man
playing for you.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah, like is Like somewhere over the rainbow.
Yeah, that was a big hunk oflove right there.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, I think he died , didn't he die?
He did die, he did die.
Oh man, maybe because he lovedtoo much.
Just loved his heart was toobig.
That wraps it up.
I think this is a very accuratearticle, clearly based in lots
of science, so there's nothingthat we can disagree.
Oh, there's like quotes frompeople.
(23:27):
Yeah, this is terrible.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Oh God.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Good article, oh my God.
One trombonist accounts boss,Gary Fletcher, 45 of high white
comb bucks, said he wasn'tsurprised at the results of the
study.
He added at first I thought itwas a bit of a duff instrument,
but as I got better I realizedit was a magnet for attracting
the opposite sex.
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, this person definitely like lives in their
mom's basement.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
I mean, as all trombonists know, we have to
sneak out the back door at everyconcert because the throngs of
groupies, no autographs, noautographs, the underwear thrown
on stage, yeah, yeah.
Well, nick, I think that thatabout sums up our first episode.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I think this was a very fun experience and
obviously we'll see how thisgrows and where it goes.
And you know I'm just excitedto do the trombon breakdown with
Seb and Nick.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
You know, is that another title Correct?
Yeah, I'm good, that was verysubtle.
I think what we've really done,we've scheduled our friendship,
which I kind of like you know,no matter what, we're devoting
our personal time, which I'mprobably devoting more time to
talking to you than my familyright now.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Well, you know, our friendship is becoming like a
Swiss train scheduled, and it'son time.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
We're so cocky, we've done one episode and we're just
like yep nailing it Exactly.
Efficiency, All right.
How are we going to wrap upthis episode?
Do we need the tagline, orsomething?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Remember that fifth position has feelings too.
Wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Okay, there you have it.
Probably not.
Probably not going to stickwith that one.
Yeah, we can come up with newtaglines too, and I encourage
everyone out there to make it agreat day.
Bye فون.
Well, hello there and welcome to Nick.
What is this?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This is Riffin with Sebia Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Oh man, you just rift that title, I did.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That was hot off the dome.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm not sure that's going to stick, but that's what
this is going to be called today.
So Nick and I were looking atways of you know posting more
consistently.
We hear you, we're flatteredthat you want more episodes, and
we decided, hey, why don't wejust record a shorter form
(00:36):
weekly episode, just the two ofus, in addition to our long form
interviews?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, I think we'll see what this develops into.
It's going to be kind ofwhatever we want it to be for
content curators.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Oh, my God, just stop .
Well, we have a few things wewant to talk about today.
It's been a pretty busy weekfor me.
How's it been for you?
I would say middling, middling,as far as like how fun it's
been.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
No, just well, that too.
I had four performances at theMet and taught a bunch.
Taught a bunch this weekactually, and was it?
I think I got back fromPittsburgh a week.
I don't know when I got back.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, we had a fun little visit.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
That's right.
I was just in the Berg.
I stayed with Sebi, Sebi PopMasterson's.
It was beautiful.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You shouldn't compare me to a Masterson.
That's like a bad word rightnow.
That guy got in trouble, that70 show guy.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That's not Masterson, is it?
Yeah, isn't it Danny Masterson?
I thought it was Madison orsomething like that.
I'm going to go with MaddieMadison.
How about that Cool?
Do you know who Maddie Madisonis?
I don't know who's that.
He's a Canadian TV chef.
I mean, he's a real chef.
He has restaurants in Montrealor Toronto.
(02:03):
Yeah, wow, but he's a biggerthan life personality.
That's a great, great story.
Well, it's not my fault.
You don't know who Maddie?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Madison is.
So your trip was awesome.
You came and worked with mystudents at Duquesne and it was
great.
I taught some lessons in myhouse while I watched Netflix,
so my job was super easy.
But, yeah, come back more often, man, it's a short flight.
Yeah, my week's been kind ofweird too.
I've been playing a lot of opera.
(02:33):
We're actually playing FlyingDutchman right now, which is
crazy, because I've been in thePittsburgh Opera since 2011 and
this is the first Wagner thatwe've done, which might be
surprising to a lot of people,but those in the opera world
know that Wagner is one of themost expensive productions to
put on.
The sets are more expensive,the orchestra often.
(02:55):
You know longer operas, soyou'll have to pay the orchestra
more.
The singers are more expensive,because it's rare to find the
singers that can do that type ofsinging.
So you know it's one of theshorter ones, but it's exciting
that we're getting to do it.
So I've been doing that andthen mixing it with like
patriotic brass band show,sometimes in the same day, which
(03:15):
couldn't be more different.
One thing I do want to talk toyou about, though I have been
experimenting with a cut bell.
Some people call them, you knowscrew bells and I know you've
been playing on one for a while.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, you decided to.
You know, call them oil andhave a bris.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, I mean, I'm still experimenting and yeah,
you know, for a long time Ithought it was pretty much for
portability and travel, but whatI'm learning more now is it
really is a sound difference andit's a feel difference and it's
definitely taken me time to getused to it and there's definite
(03:57):
times where, if you play it thewrong way, it doesn't work.
But if you like, let go andtrust it.
It's like it's prettyincredible, like the core it
keeps.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
You know, yeah, like I actually bought mine I think
it was during the pandemic yeah,it was during the pandemic and
I bought it specifically withthe idea of portability, that's
like that's what I was going touse it for.
And then I got it and I startedrealizing I think I like this
better than my uncut belt,because I didn't cut my original
(04:29):
bell.
I bought one that was designedto be cut they.
They spin them a little bitdifferently so that it's like
the weight Addition of the ringwhere it screws in.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It's a better way to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, you have to like lighten it up in certain
areas so that the addition ofthat weight doesn't screw with
the whole like resonance of thebell and I mean.
No doubt they're different,right, but I just I found it
like better and I can't quiteexplain why and I doubt it'd be
better like across the board,like like every horn would be
better with a screw bell orevery horn is better without one
(05:05):
.
I think it's kind of case bycase and person by person, but
like I was definitely negativeon the idea of screw bells and
then I started trying one, or Ibought one and it was like whoa,
ok, I'm converted.
I mean, what's it do for you?
I feel like it like kind oflike brings in the walls of the
sound.
(05:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah it's, it's afeel thing, but it's also a
sound thing.
Like it does change it somehow,and for me I always found that
change to be better.
Like it helps me with control alittle bit more projection, it
doesn't hurt that.
It's really portable.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Yeah, I mean that part's freaking amazing.
Like the first time taking aflight was just heaven and I've
always been a purist with mostthings.
Like I don't want anything onmy trombone like extra straps.
I really want to feel thevibration and I really want that
to be pure and that's why I waskind of against it too.
But it's in a way it's, if youthink about it holistically,
(06:04):
you're just putting an extralike weighted ring at a certain
point in your bell.
That just gives you more focusand power and if you blow it the
wrong way, I feel like thevibration can kind of get stuck
in there.
But if you think about like thesound, like resonating on the
outside of the bell, it's, it'skind of magical.
I definitely feel like itnarrows the sound a little bit,
so like it's at the veryslightest, like I don't hear
(06:27):
myself.
I feel like as well as I didwith my other bell.
But the feedback I'm getting isjust every everyone is
universally loving how it'ssounding.
So universally yeah,universally the entire world has
emailed me and told me whatthey think.
Speaking of the entire world,you want to hear the latest
(06:48):
trombone and Google news alerts?
Oh, boy, do I.
Okay, so this is going to be asegment on our show, riffing
with what we call this, riffingwith the bass and fudge master.
Yeah, okay, let's check.
Let's check, okay.
Trumbone shorty, trumbone,shorty, trumbone, shorty,
trumbone, shorty, trumbone,champ.
(07:09):
All right, that about sums itup.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Wow, man, what an amazing week for news in the
trumbone world.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Yeah, I'll keep on this and if you guys find any
good news, please send it to us.
We'll keep on this Breakingnews.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, so I mean we're going to say this again at the
end.
But yeah, please send us likeany interesting topics you'd
like to hear talked about thatyou find interesting, or like
articles that you find, or newsstories, whatever that are
trombone or music related orjust funny whatever.
We'll take a peek, give it agood old gander.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Speaking of segments, I think we'll also work.
Is GRIPE of the Week.
I got a GRIPE.
I got a.
Gripe, yeah, and just have achance to just, you know, air
your grievances.
Literally, I got a ripe gripe.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh, I want to hear it Okay.
Has this ever happened to you,John Sebastian Vera, where you
open your email and you see anoffer for a gig and you open it
up and it's like whatever thework offer is, and then it says
some variation of basicallyfirst come for a serve and then
(08:29):
you realize that that work offerhas been sent to like 20 people
.
Yep, nope, I don't even reply tothose.
Yeah, I don't either, and it'slike I understand.
If it's like I need someonetoday, there's an emergency and
I don't have time to wait foreverybody, that's, that's
extenuating circumstances.
But like I've gotten offerslike that for like a month away
(08:51):
and I'm just like like what thehell?
You know, you can't, you can'tjust like call one person.
It's so disrespectful, you knowto everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
It's like ringing ringing, ringing a dinner bell
and like come and get it.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Exactly, yeah, and it's usually almost exclusively.
They're not very good gigs tobegin with, right when
contractors hire that way.
So you know man, can peoplestop doing that?
Because I feel like there'sbeen an uptake in that lately.
Maybe it just feels that wayfor me, but it's been driving me
freaking nuts.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I think that is a legitimate first gripe.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
That's yeah, I mean that's, it's like a new personal
manager and they're like Idon't know why people waste all
this time emailing people one ata time, just email them all at
once, boom.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Settled.
Yeah, that's.
They're like life hacking, youknow.
They're like Tim Ferriss fourhour work week or whatever it's
called.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I'm even kind of annoyed even if it's last minute
, though, to get those, becauseI mean, no matter what, I'm
going to respond very quickly.
So if they're sending it lastminute, it also means they
didn't ask you first, which isanother thing.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Unless one of their like members of their group is
like, all of a sudden has to run.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
But well, that's well , hold on.
That's not necessarily truebecause, like what, if that's
their first step of hiringsomebody, they didn't even ask
an individual.
Like that's kind of assuming,if I understand you correctly,
that they asked one or twopeople and they're like, okay,
I'm done wasting time on this,and then they just ask like 15,
20 people at one.
But that could be like thefirst time.
(10:28):
Like the first time they'veasked anybody is everybody all
at once, and that's even worse.
So it's so ridiculous.
But yeah, there's a lot ofreasons why it's just so stupid.
It's lazy, it's disrespectful,it's like whatever.
I mean, I guess, past theissues, we all have issues, but
and all the personal managerslisten to our podcast.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I'm sure this will fix the problem.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Welcome, welcome to manage and orchestras with Nick
and Seb.
Why don't we just change ourpodcast name like this, this
segment's name, like 10 timesevery single episode.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I'm for it.
Well, until we settle on whatthis is called, and we are very
welcome to hearing suggestions.
So send us an email at tromboneretreat at gmailcom with any
news, articles or ideas forsegments where we're open and we
might have the occasionalguests pop on here for fun.
It's not gonna be the normallong form interview, but you
(11:26):
never know what's gonna happenon the Trombone Weekly.
That's what's so that's what.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
That's what's so exciting about the Trombone
space, you know so unexplored.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
We're like astronauts .
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You know, well, I just had an idea also that you
know we could come up with abunch of names and put them out
there and then have like a votefrom our public on which one's
the best, and then we can havelike a press conference
announcing the release of ournew name, and we could do it at
(11:59):
like FUD rockers in RockfordIllinois or something like that.
Did you just call?
Speaker 1 (12:04):
it FUD rockers, fud rockers, fud rockers.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
You get that right Well if you're going, if you're
going to the FUDs, you'rerucking up.
How dare you?
Don't desecrate the sacred nameof the Ruck.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Great burgers If you'd FUD rockers if you'd like
to sponsor the podcast.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, we're desperately looking for a beef
based sponsorship.
Oh yeah, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Forget all these music businesses, let's.
We need to get more into food.
Hey, I'm here for it.
Also, we'd love to have aquestion and answer segment, and
Trombone related whateverrelated were open to that.
So send us questions attromboneretreatgmailcom.
So this is the aim, for this isgoing to be weekly, so we found
(12:53):
that we're most free on Monday,so we're going to try to record
on Mondays, hopefully put itout shortly thereafter, because
we're just going to be perfectand I'm not going to need to
edit it because we're justseasoned podcasting
professionals.
On a closing note, nick, I'dlike to share with you an
article I've wanted to talk toyou about for a while.
It's the Mirror UK.
(13:14):
The Mirror, the Mirror.
I've I've trouble with double Rwords like R?
U R A L.
I can't say it.
Not going to try.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, it's like on 30 Rock they have the, the, the
show that Jenna's on, the moviethat Jenna's on called the rural
juror, and every word.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Not going to try to say that.
So the Mirror wrote an article.
You know they have Glenn Milleras the the photo for some
reason.
Classic.
Recently they had a poll wherethey asked 2000 people to choose
the type of musician thatthey've had the best sex with.
Clutch my pearls, and of coursethese had to be people that
(13:58):
have had sex with a musician.
Parents, put your children tobed if you haven't had that talk
yet.
So obviously I gave it awaywith the photo of Glenn Miller,
but topping the list of the top10 lovers of all musicians
Trumbonist at 16 percent.
Let's go Trumbonists, which youand I already know is true, but
(14:23):
it's just cool that the worldis catching on.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Oh, yeah, you know, just I turned the lights way
down low.
The lights way down low like myYamaha side.
Oil scented candles Poor.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Oh my God, can you imagine the poison that would be
?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
It just felt like petroleum.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well that that lubricant already looks kind of
like something already that weall know.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
So, but that's another, that's another episode,
so the top that you want tohear the top 10.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
I want to hear the top 10.
Yeah, starting at number 10with five percent, is the
clarinet.
I'm personally I'm surprisedthat even crack the top 10.
Nine were drums drummers.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I guess we're talking I mean in good shape normally
you know, very physicalinstrument you know, physical
burn a lot of calories.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
They have good pacing , good rhythm.
They usually have very nicehair.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I'm thinking like metal drummers.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I guess when I think sexiness, I think less hair.
Personally, oh yeah, numbereight trumpet bullshit.
So I think that I think that'sif you, you know, you like, like
someone to take charge, be typeA and just you know, tell you
what to do all the time and putsome hips lips and nips into it.
Number seven Piano Pianists youknow more introverted, knows
(15:54):
how to work by themselves, goodwith their hands.
Checks out, I may or?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
may not be married to a pianist, so go on, that's
true.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Number six flute with 10%, little surprising.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
I, uh, I have thoughts, but those are going to
be internal thoughts for now.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I mean, if you want someone maybe a little more on
the high strung area of thespectrum.
Lots of energy.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think it's pronounced as crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Wow, the flute podcasts are not going to be
happy with us.
Number five, kind of along thesame vein, is violin.
I think they're thinking moreromance, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, yeah, Like the earliest violin concerto.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, like serenade you before dinner.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Like that scene in red violin.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
That one scene.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Well, the scene where they open the door and they're
like he's playing the violinwhile they're making love.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Oh, yep, yep, yep, yep.
The guy that's like imitating.
Uh, what's Paganini?
Paganini, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Number four, which is a littlecliche saxophone.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I mean they do have the greatest horn riff of all
time is on a saxophone.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
If this was based on, like the 80s, where there was a
saxophone solo on every popsong ever, saxophone might be
number one.
I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, here's the other thing, and it's a very
important distinction that I'mkind of sensing some shoddy
journalism here.
To be honest, Saxophone needsto be defined as specifically
jazz saxophone, becauseclassical saxophone isn't
anywhere on this list.
I think you're, I think that'saccurate, and I know someone
(17:43):
who's going to be upset at mefor saying that I have to say
that E-Bear saxophone concertois as sexy as it gets for me.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
I personally like the E-Bear flute sonata so I mean
that's why they're both top tenNumber three, a bit of a
surprise the organ With 14%French horn.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
See, that can go either way.
French horn players are eitherlike really awesome and cool or
super high strong, becausethey're kind of like they're
like half trombone, because theycan play real low but then they
can play real high, so they'rekind of half trumpet personality
and you, you've got to run away.
If you talk to a French hornplayer that says oh, I consider
(18:26):
the French horn more of awoodwind instrument, Run away
People say that oh yeah, whatare you friends with?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Wow, yeah, I mean French horn a little of the
trumpet personality because it'sjust such a hard instrument and
so many solos.
They kind of got to be type A alot of the time, especially if
you're playing first or third.
But yeah, fourth horn, Top tenlovers yeah, yeah.
Fourth horn, that's probablythe best lover.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Okay, number two not surprised by this one guitar, oh
yeah, the classic guitar at abonfire.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Oh yeah, and the type of person you know, this person
that plays a guitar in asetting like that but makes just
strong eye contact with you thewhole time.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Mmm.
Now, this is one I will say.
The category of guitaristdoesn't matter, unlike saxophone
.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, any type of guitar classical guitar, you
could argue, is the sexiest in alot of ways.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I would say, like acoustic, james Taylor is
probably going to be the sexiestoverall to the widest amount of
people.
James Taylor does it for you,huh.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I like a tall ball drink of water from Long.
Island.
That's like softly it soundslike easy listening but he's
talking about like drugaddiction.
Yeah, it's like talking aboutwithdrawal from heroin.
Yeah, I've seen fire and I'veseen rain and then we come to
number one with trombone at 16%and you know, do I know why?
(20:02):
I mean, could I put into words?
I don't know.
I mean, how do you describecolors to someone who's
colorblind?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How do you?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
describe the smell of morning dew to someone who
doesn't have their sense ofsmell.
Michael Jordan played back.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Michael Jordan played basketball.
Tiger Woods played golf.
Tiger Woods played golf.
Trombone players loved.
I also have the bottom five,which is I think they nailed
this Okay.
Can I take a guess?
Because?
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I really don't know this.
Yeah, let's see how many in thebottom five you can guess.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, let's see how many in the bottom five you can
guess.
Yeah, let's see how many in thebottom five you can guess.
Um, oboe, oboe is number five,3%, that is.
That is.
That is accurate Bassoon?
Surprisingly no, but my guessis probably because most people
on the survey don't even knowwhat a bassoon is.
Okay, Viola.
(21:07):
Surprisingly no.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
But again, maybe same thing.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I think there could be an argument for Viola to be
in the top 10 instead of violin.
I mean number one is Tuba.
Yeah yeah nailed it 0.5%.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I didn't even guess.
I just told you that it is.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Sorry, Tuba players.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
You're working against the odds there.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
If enough people knew what a euphonium was, that
would be number one for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Yeah, let's just put euphonium and Tuba in the same
category.
Accordion Number two Very good,I'm surprised you got that one,
but you know Argentinian typeof stuff that can be a little
atherapythola.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Well, that's not accordion, that's bandonion.
Oh, that's right, bandonion,bandonion, okay.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Okay, so two more.
Okay, One surprising one andone that you probably won't
guess.
Huh, I would put theremin onhere for sure.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Herdy Gertie.
Oh God, I said bass.
Is that on there?
No, that's surprising too.
I feel like bass should be onthe top list.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Agreed.
Yeah For all the bass players.
I'm waiting for marriage, mom,don't worry.
Okay.
Number four yeah, cello, okay.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
All right, poppycock.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
You disagree?
Disagree.
Yeah, I think Cello is muchsexier than violin or flute.
Yeah, yeah.
And then number three, withonly 2% of the top five.
Worst is ukulele, but I mean,imagine a big, sexy Hawaiian man
playing for you.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah, like is Like somewhere over the rainbow.
Yeah, that was a big hunk oflove right there.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, I think he died , didn't he die?
He did die, he did die.
Oh man, maybe because he lovedtoo much.
Just loved his heart was toobig.
That wraps it up.
I think this is a very accuratearticle, clearly based in lots
of science, so there's nothingthat we can disagree.
Oh, there's like quotes frompeople.
(23:27):
Yeah, this is terrible.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Oh God.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Good article, oh my God.
One trombonist accounts boss,Gary Fletcher, 45 of high white
comb bucks, said he wasn'tsurprised at the results of the
study.
He added at first I thought itwas a bit of a duff instrument,
but as I got better I realizedit was a magnet for attracting
the opposite sex.
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, this person definitely like lives in their
mom's basement.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
I mean, as all trombonists know, we have to
sneak out the back door at everyconcert because the throngs of
groupies, no autographs, noautographs, the underwear thrown
on stage, yeah, yeah.
Well, nick, I think that thatabout sums up our first episode.
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I think this was a very fun experience and
obviously we'll see how thisgrows and where it goes.
And you know I'm just excitedto do the trombon breakdown with
Seb and Nick.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
You know, is that another title Correct?
Yeah, I'm good, that was verysubtle.
I think what we've really done,we've scheduled our friendship,
which I kind of like you know,no matter what, we're devoting
our personal time, which I'mprobably devoting more time to
talking to you than my familyright now.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Well, you know, our friendship is becoming like a
Swiss train scheduled, and it'son time.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
We're so cocky, we've done one episode and we're just
like yep nailing it Exactly.
Efficiency, All right.
How are we going to wrap upthis episode?
Do we need the tagline, orsomething?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Remember that fifth position has feelings too.
Wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Okay, there you have it.
Probably not.
Probably not going to stickwith that one.
Yeah, we can come up with newtaglines too, and I encourage
everyone out there to make it agreat day.
Bye فون.
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