Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Discuss the people that make the music here.
Post Reply
chabuddyg
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:14 pm

Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by chabuddyg »

Joseph Alessi, Toby Oft, Michael Mulcahy...all incredible trombone players of course, but what else do they share in common? They’re all follicly challenged! I’m wondering if anybody’s observed any correlation between being a great trombone player and having a shiny dome (possible dissertation topic?). I figure since I probably won’t see anybody important for at least a few months, now might be a good time to take the leap of faith and shave my gorgeous mullet off. Would love to hear any and all thoughts on the matter, I’m all ears!...and no hair 😜
User avatar
BGuttman
Posts: 5891
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:19 am
Location: Cow Hampshire

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by BGuttman »

See if you can find the YouTube video of Glen Dodson's Barbershop Quartet. It's a mix of brass concert and singing. Two of the players are Joe Alessi and Charlie Vernon. Both with hair.

There are plenty of great trombone players with hair. Not necessary to shave your head. Dodson was one. Also Leroy Kenfield, Boston Symphony bass trombone from the 1890s to around the mid 1940s. Urbie Green. Kai Winding. Alan Raph. That's just off the top of my (non-bald) head.
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
Posaunus
Posts: 3424
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:54 pm
Location: California

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by Posaunus »

Sorry to tell you, but hirsuteness does not correlate well with trombonability. :o
User avatar
Geordie
Posts: 271
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 10:45 am
Location: UK

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by Geordie »

chabuddyg wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:50 pm Joseph Alessi, Toby Oft, Michael Mulcahy...all incredible trombone players of course, but what else do they share in common? They’re all follicly challenged! I’m wondering if anybody’s observed any correlation between being a great trombone player and having a shiny dome (possible dissertation topic?). I figure since I probably won’t see anybody important for at least a few months, now might be a good time to take the leap of faith and shave my gorgeous mullet off. Would love to hear any and all thoughts on the matter, I’m all ears!...and no hair
Hedge your bets and only shave off one side .... :good:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is not a rehearsal
User avatar
BGuttman
Posts: 5891
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:19 am
Location: Cow Hampshire

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by BGuttman »

Posaunus wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 10:11 pm Sorry to tell you, but hirsuteness does not correlate well with trombonability. :o
Nor does it inversely correlate. :wink:
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 4487
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by harrisonreed »

You forgot ... A few...
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 4487
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by harrisonreed »

It actually has to do with the valve wrap:

Image
User avatar
Nhtrombone
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:31 am

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by Nhtrombone »

I resemble that remark
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
BGuttman
Posts: 5891
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:19 am
Location: Cow Hampshire

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by BGuttman »

Robbins, you had more hair when I played with you! :tongue:
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
User avatar
robcat2075
Posts: 1338
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:58 pm

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by robcat2075 »

Herbert von Karajan would make the bald players in the BPO wear toupés for their film performances. I wonder if that is a deductible expense.

I recall how deadly it used to be for younger men to be bald, Yul Brynner notwithstanding.

Somehow that has turned around since the 80s but they have to shave it all off.

The classic male pattern baldness is still a seat at the un-sexy table, Patrick Stewart notwithstanding.
>>Robert Holmén<<

Hear me as I play my horn

See my Spacepod movie
User avatar
Finetales
Posts: 858
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:31 pm
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by Finetales »

If being bald makes you great, what does having long hair do???
User avatar
ithinknot
Posts: 1036
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2020 3:40 pm

Re: Bald Trombone Players:What’s the Deal?

Post by ithinknot »

Finetales wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:47 pm If being bald makes you great, what does having long hair do???
No need to worry.

You're assuming the scale of hairy accomplishment is uniaxial and linear, whereas in fact it mimics the horseshoe of male pattern baldness.
Post Reply

Return to “Musicians”