The vtb is just another horn...nothing that should threaten the purists of the slide world, unless, of course, you're like one of the thousands of slide players that have the ablity to control pitch and can't because their ears are not educated.

Remember, the vtb players of the world, rarely, if ever, started off on that horn. They were Jr. High trumpet players that were looking for another challenge, or perhaps were persuaded, cajoled and conned into taking up the severely less sexy baritone horn. Whatever the case, a vtb player never disses a slide player, so why is it that ya'll get upset...have we cheated the Gods? Do you own the lower register....nah, don't think that's it. Perhaps it's because the sax guys get all the gigs? Could be, I don't know.

After 27 years on vtb, I still don't get it. But I do know this: our numbers are increasing, our mentors are recording, and we have only just begun to define the limits of the instrument. I have to head up the road to Telluride for a gig in the pits for a play. Do you know how nice it is to have a vtb in the pits? That's why they were developed in the first place: Verdi's operas wouldn't have been the same.

Skin
3/39/02