Triple-crown master performer
Robin Eubanks took the audience on a journey through the history of the trombone at SF Jazz Listening Party and Wine Tasting on Nov. 9.
The event packed a full house at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Spinning recordings from legends and innovators of the trombone, Eubanks shared his insights and demonstrated trombone techniques with educators, students and jazz enthusiasts.

“As an athlete has to warms up with stretches before an event, you must first warm up with the trombone,” said Eubanks.

Vintage Berkeley featured acclaimed selections of small-production wines from around the world.

On stage with Eubanks for the discussion was Randall Kline, Executive Artistic Director and founder of SF Jazz, followed by a question and answer session.

“It’s a chance for the audience to get to know the artist,” said Kline.

Eubanks first appeared on the jazz scene in 1980, performing with Slide Hampton, Sun Ra and Stevie Wonder.

He came from an exceptional musical family. His mother was a piano player while his brothers Kevin and Duane played the guitar and the trumpet, respectively. His cousins Ray Bryant and Tommy Bryant were also musicians.

At age eight, while his mother was giving piano lessons, Eubanks’ curiosity was cause for him to pick up the trombone.

“I was trying to figure out how to play an instrument just moving your arms,” said Eubanks.

Eubanks has appeared on television numerous times, often playing with brother Kevin and doing fill-ins with the “Tonight Show” band as well as for the Bay Area’s own Steve Turre on “Saturday Night Live” in New York.

The trombone, a 15th century instrument originally designed after an Old English instrument called the sackbut, is a symphonic horn characterized by a telescopic slide.

“There is a physical awkwardness because of the slide. F to G, you move about a foot. That’s a physical problem with the trombone,” said Eubanks.

According to Eubanks, Kid Ory from the 1920s in New Orleans was one of the most influential trombonists in early jazz. During the tail gate parties where bands rode around in the back of a truck, Ory was known for having his trombone hanging off the side of the truck while playing due to the awkwardness of the horn.

A tenured professor at Oberlin College, Eubanks talked early jazz history of trombone players who were the biggest names in Jazz and helped the trombone become well known.

“It is said that it is the closest sound to the human voice,” said Eubanks while spinning a recording of Ellington’s band.

“I loved how his letter flutter did a harmony with his notes,” said Joe Stritchy, a junior at Delmar High School in San Jose who is the only trombone player at his school.

After taking a journey with Eubanks through the Big Band era during World War II with J.J. Johnson, whom he calls the godfather of modern trombone in the ‘40s and known for his film scores, Eubanks credits him as the most important influence because he recommended him for his teaching position at Oberlin College.

“I was so indebted to J.J., I saw it as him passing the torch on to me and I will always be indebted to him and his memory,” said Eubanks.