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Must-Have for Jazz Trombone Aficionados

Dr. Christopher Coleman | HONG KONG | 01/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bill Watrous is an uncanny trombonist, with technique to burn and one of the most unique timbres of any trombonist I've ever heard. As a trombonist myself, I'd guess he's perfected the "no-pressure" embouchure and uses lots of close-miking. I can't explain the sound otherwise--very buttery and smooth, rather like a big flugelhorn or a small euphonium. And his range is astonishing--not many people in the world can move so easily (if at all) from his soaring upper register to his amazing pedal tones. That Watrous plays a small bore horn without an F attachment makes it all the more amazing. I hope he has his lips insured!But all that said, I think the appeal here is mostly for fellow trombonists. Bill does bebop, latin, and ballads; and the band plays superbly, with special kudos to pianist Shelly Berg. But the sound is so uniquely...buttery is the only word that really seems appropriate, seemingly totally free of those nasal upper harmonics--and so much in the middle register of the band, and almost always restrained in dynamics, that the overall effect will be perceived as bland by those who aren't in awe of Watrous's stunning technical ability. I believe it's a case where, for many listeners there is too much perfection and not enough grit in Watrous's sound. He never misses a note on this CD, and what he does is absolutely amazing from a trombonist's perspective, but cool bebop is an oxymoron, isn't it? And while I'm nitpicking, some of the sax solos are uninspired--not bad, not by any means; but some of them seem to just be taking up time on the album. The sax goes up, the sax comes down, the sax goes back up again. But Watrous, in the cadenza in the final cut, shows how expressive and astonishing a solo can really be. Since Watrous's debut album, Manhattan Wildlife Refuge, is no longer available, this is my favorite of his works."

Bill Watrous At His Best

P. Rose | Connecticut | 05/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Space Available is his best CD performance to date. It is more varied than "Time For Love" - an album of mostly ballads. The tracks feature music from the Gordon Goodwin and Tom Kubis song books, a nice collection of west coast jazz. Bill Watrous performances are matched by a hard swinging west coast big band - including some great band features.Watrous is especially impressive on Village Dance with a cadenza that includes a little of everything - screaming high phases, great pedal playing, and some funky multiphonics at the end. Way COOL! I heartily recommend this album to jazz fans and trombonists in particular."

Bill Watrous has put out an EXPLOSIVE Big Band CD!

jaclawson@aol.com | Los Angeles, CA | 10/19/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard the Bill Watrous Big Band play this music live many times at Moonlight in LA. I can't get enough of it. This is truly hot stuff. I hope there is more to come. It you like (and remember) the Wildlife Refuge, you will love this CD."