The trombone was my first instrument way back but has remained my main gigging instrument. My first two degrees are on trombone both from the University of Oregon. My Bachelors degree was in trombone performance and my Masters is in jazz studies.
I continued to live in Oregon after my Masters and freelanced a ton between Portland and Eugene.
Some of my work in Oregon:
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•Played with the Eugene Symphony
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•Recorded with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
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•Some big band recording dates in Portland
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•2 year stint with a Eugene based salsa band, Caliente
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•Played with the Funk Brothers - the Motown band
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•The Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra
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•Principal trombone in the regional Salem Chamber Orch.
Strengths
When I was in high school I had many compliments on my sound and I still try to cultivate that to my advantage.
I feel I have a strong sense of style in all genres and love the feeling that each gives me and try to express that through my playing to the audience. This is why I can’t just play one genre.
Sight-reading has always been a strong point of mine and often I have been hired to play at the last minute. This also helps me to learn music very quickly so that I may spend more time on musical pursuits.
My main goal these days is to be a better jazz improvisor. I am much better than I have ever been but I am always trying to find that sound that expresses me the most and trying to stretch my technical limits. It is this on trombone that gives me the most pleasure.
Bryce’s instrumentarium
- Edwards small bore tenor .500 DB
- Earl Williams model 6 (Burbank , Ca)
- Earl Williams model 6 (Tennessee)
- Bach straight 42
- Besson Soveriegn 4 valve, compensating
A few years ago I had a King 3B Silversonic, serial #3630, stolen out of my car. Only months before that I had a Minnick/Thayer Bach 42, serial #147673/282, also stolen out of my car. I never recovered either of them. Fortunately I had good insurance but the loss of both of those horns sucks!!
If anyone has ever heard of horns like these but with sketchy backgrounds, let me know with an email.
Someday I hope to get another large bore trombone but lately I haven’t had much call for one. Most trombone music I play right now is small-bore rep. or for sackbut.