throat tromnet

Subject: throat tromnet
From: GUEST,johnp
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:06 AM

Leon Redbone plays a throat tromnet...whatever is that?

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: Terry K
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:18 AM

Dunno, but in the middle of some very ordinary TV programme earlier this year Leon Redbone came on (completely out of context really) and sung "Lazy River" which completely captivated me - I'd never heard of him before. What a treat.

Cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:57 AM

The reference I saw made it sound more like that is a technique he uses with his throat, not sure if that is what they meant, though.

He is incredible. We've been listening to him ever since his first album came out. I noticed on his Official Website that he's put together an album of lullys with some of his pals. That would be a great one to have.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: Mark Clark
Date: 21 Nov 00 - 02:44 PM

I've seen Redbone play this distinguished and nobel instrument several times up close. It is in fact a throat sound made with the lips relaxed and lightly closed. It's a rather soft "instrument" so it must be done very close to a microphone. I don't know when he started doing that (early 70s at least) but I'll bet it was cheaper than hiring Joe Venuti to go on the road with him.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:23 AM

Is this in fact, the technique used by a number of blues/folk singers called the "invisible trumpet/harmonica where the lips are pursed as if playing a brass instrument and the singer sings notes while opening up as much internal air-space as possible resulting in the production of a trumpet sound?

David Suchet the actor is apparently a fine exponent of this having had to learn it to appear in "Blott on the Landscape" I have also heard Eddie Walker and John Kirkpatrick performing a quick "cornet intermezzo"

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:45 AM

I used to this at about 11 years old when I wanted to be Louis Armstrong and my parents couldn't afford to buy me a trumpet (chorus of sympathetic: "Aaaah"s). Also a Mills Brothers thing , for those of us of a certain age.
RtS

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: LR Mole
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:52 AM

Dave Van Ronk used to do something that sounded like this--he alternatively called it the "trumpoo".

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 10:09 AM

A Wandering Minstrel,

I think that's it. An example can be found in his version of "Marie" from his mid seventies "On the Tracks Release" a very fine album.

I'm just waiting for another wonderful CD of his to come in, "Double Time." I ordered it last week and can't wait to hear it again.

Apparently when Dylan was asked some time ago who he would sign if he had his own label, Leon was the first artist he mentioned.

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: rangeroger
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 11:38 PM

When I worked at Silver Mountain Ski resort we had a summer concert series in an amphitheater at the top of the mountain.The line up one summer included Leon Redbone. When I congratulated the marketing director on having signed him, she disappointedly told me it was a mistake.

She thought she had signed Leon Russell.

Redbone put on an awesome show,though I never could understand why he walked around afterward with a cantaloupe and a large butcher knife in his hands.

Was afraid to ask him.

rr

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: GUEST,johnp
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 10:10 PM

Thanks all for the info. I am now driving my partner insane practicing the tromnet. Its so versatile and portable.

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: GUEST,Corb
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 12:00 AM

The year is 2020, still don't know what it is

Subject: RE: throat tromnet
From: cnd
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 06:39 PM

The "throat tromnet" isn't an actual instrument, it's just a style of singing. It's a sort of scat singing; it sounds like he hums with his mouth partially open and lips somewhat buzzing to imitate the sounds of a old-timey trumpet with a plunger mute while sliding like a trombone - trom(bo)ne + (trump)et.

The Lewis Family, a Christian bluegrass group, does a similar thing on their song "Honey In the Rock," calling the instrument a "sweet potato whistle"

It's not necessarily an instrument, just a style of singing meant to emulate an instrument, and the musicians felt that the "singer" should be credited for it.