TromboneChat

Through my time browsing the internet, I can't help but wonder where many famous performers' instruments are today.

Take https://syncopatedtimes.com/wp-content/ ... -Kings.png, for instance, purely because we can at least narrow down that they're King trombones.
Surely, when Tizol, Jackson, and Britt Woodman all died, their horns weren't immediately destroyed, right? I just find it interesting to think that there are probably some people out there owning or playing instruments that were played in bands as famous as the Ellington Orchestra.

I know that some people's instruments were saved, like how Miles Davis's Trumpet and Lester Young's sax are on display at Rutgers, and that Glenn Miller's trombone is still around (and gets PLAYED).

Does anyone know anything that might happen to instruments like those if they don't go in a museum? Or are they just lost to time like any other old horn?

I went to the Smithsonian years ago and Fred Wesley's Bach 36 was in a glass case, as well as one of Miles Davis' trumpets.

A surprising amount of "famous" instruments end up getting sold on Noah Gladstone's Brass Ark site.

They generally lose their provenance after two or three owners...

I think Jack Teagarden's horns are in a small museum his family runs dedicated to him.

One of my associates (who is not a Chat member) knows the current owner (who is not a trombone player) of Carl Fontana's Williams 6, but has so far been unsuccessful in his attempts to acquire it. Fingers crossed.

“Big Chief” Russell Moore’s trombone is in the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix AZ. They also have collections donated by various other brass players like Ronald Romm, Mike Vax, etc. Doug Yeo wrote an article about Russell Moore a while back. I think it’s in the ITA Journal somewhere…

https://mim.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Chief_Russell_Moore

A member here owns Slyde Hyde’s Williams 6. I was able to acquire his 8.

I used to own the trombone Nils Landgren played before he became a Yamaha artist.
It was a Bach LT12G and played fantastic.
I regret selling it when I became a Rath artist

However I now own and play a Bach LT6 that belonged to a renowned and highly respected trombonist over here in the UK.

Where is Bill Watrous’ 1940 New York Bach 16 now-a-days?

BrianJohnston wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:03 am Where is Bill Watrous’ 1940 New York Bach 16 now-a-days?

His wife Marianne still has it I believe!