He's my teacher, I've learned so much from him! I am a huge advocate of lessons on Skype if you don't live in Chicago or NYC where he is. It's almost exactly the same, on my first lesson actually in person is we never skipped a beat, picked up right where we left off on the Skype lessons. He's a great teacher, he can show you all that stuff he does! His lessons are cheap too, most musicians at his level are too busy to even teach, he just loves doing it!
If you read my previous comments about practice closely, I never say you'll become a *master* with 30 minutes of practice per day, but you certainly can make steady progress and become a *decent* player (which I'd consider playing at a semi-professional level). And it's more than just a theoretical notion of mine, it' worked for me. Why not for you?
Whether it was at an early age (Elliot was supposedly putting in serious hours from elementary school on up), in their adolescent and college years (Justin Vasquez, the alto player on this set, discovered saxophone around the age of 13 and devoured every iota of knowledge he could acquire, practicing up to 9 hours a day by his account), or in their later life, as Sonny Rollins did with his bridge sessions, intense practice is the key to truly mastering this or any other music, no way around it.
@altair003 i went to school with elliot, moved into the area he lived when i was 10 years old. he was already obsessive, as was bradley...iirc, even then he was putting in 3 hours a day on school days.
@SpUnKyTh3MoNk3y I heard a recording of Elliot when he was like 16 and he was swingin hard as ever back then too. No wonder though, you can't pay at this level without getting an early start and working your ass off.
Some of the practice comments on this page are mind-bogglingly out of line. To say that someone can master an instrument with 30 minutes a day, no matter what kind of practice it is or how good their attitude is or how long they keep it up, is patently ridiculous. Read the bio of or an interview with any jazz master, whether modern or long dead, and borderline obsessive practice at some point in their life is a constant.
Cavadarossi7 Thank you for giving that great explaination, its not how long you practice but what you practice I am not sure people realize that. There are countless musicians who practice 6 to 8 hours a day and sound like crap, most people ask why ???? The reason is because most amateur musicians have no idea on what to practice, that is why there are countless books out on this very topic. Again you can put all the hours in if you are not executing correctly all of those hours are worthless.
Continuing my last thought... I think that a belief that you can only reach a high level by practicing 6 hours or more per day is self-limiting. Suppose you can only spare 20-30 minutes per day... why not consider your week's worth of practice the equivalent to one day's intense practice? Sure, you may take six years to make the same progress (instead of one year), but what's the rush? Enjoy getting to know your horn!
Sorry, but with brass playing there is a certain amount of muscle development that must take place to have the flexibility (and strength) to get around the horn the way Elliot does. If 30 minutes a day is all that it took, then everyone could play with this kind of facility. Ask Al Vizutti how much he practiced when he was younger. Even Hal Crook in his books recommends 3 hours a day minimum.
While I agree brass playing requires more time dedicated to technical aspects, I do not agree that 3 hours per day is necessary. That is rather ridiculous and varies entirely from person to person. MrPeezy is exactly right. There have been times in my practicing where I shed for hours and accomplished nothing, but sat at the piano during a commercial break and had a major breakthrough. You have to find what works best for you.
Also, if you followed Hal Crook to the letter, you'd spend the rest of your life playing the millions of examples in his books. I have his "Ready Aim Improvise" book and I find it to be overly verbose, to a fault. Even if you had time to practice all of the arbitrary exercises in there, they probably wouldn't help you. Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" is much better IMO.
I'll admit that there's an implicit insult in my comment from last week, and that's not against the EM, but rather against all of the other amateur players out there who stay at a mediocre level despite years of effort to the contrary. But that's not my intention... rather I'm saying that reaching a high level is easier than you think, but requires those inputs I mentioned.
I think "practicing your ass off" is over-rated. If you read some posts about Elliot Mason on other videos from people who say they know EM, you'll read that he was playing at high levels at an early age. Jiggs Whigham also has said that he never practiced after he was 14 or 15. That's not to say that practicing isn't important, but the right kind of practicing combined with the right instruction is what matters. 30 min/day + good attitude + McChesney's book = steady progress!
I know it's kind of ridiculous... But I'm almost offended by the way you downplay the time and effort Jiggs and Elliot put in to become the technical masters that they are. It takes an extraordinary amount of dedication and time to become as proficient and expressive as both of those players are. During the peak practicing times of their lives, I wouldn't be surprised if they were playing six hours a day.
Sorry, but if becoming a master were as easy as 30 minutes a day and a good attitude, everyone would be doing it. The way you belittle the amazing amount of time and dedication it takes to become a great musician (especially on trombone...) really shows that you have very little experience in the field.
Also, from what I've heard Elliot Mason uses very little doodle tonguing; for a lot of people it's a very unnatural movement and extremely difficult to master.
There's a reason this man is in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. I'm amazed that idiots here refuse to understand that this man is already, at age 33, the complete progressive trombonist. Imagine how he's gonna bring it 10 years from now.
Very impressive. Hold on though. There is always some other monster of a player somewhere in this world who can top even this. Not taking any credit from Elliot. I've never heard or seen anyone with superior technique to accomplish what he does on this video. How does he play a ballad?
This is truly awesome stuff..!! I used to go to school with Elliot and he was always streets ahead. If anyone wants to hear him play some 'old' changes then check out his solo on 'it might as well be spring' -recorded before Berkley when he was just 16! (you'll find it on masonbrothersband website).
Anyway, I don't think it is too bold a statement to say; Elliot is the best Trombone player that has ever lived!.......?.......! Who else is there....?
Bill of course is one of the most amazing all round technicians on the bone, and there are recordings of his that blow my mind everytime I hear them. The difference I feel is that Bill leaves his mark on all of us brass players and without doubt must be considered an all time trombone master, but I believe that Elliot is already making his mark more firmly on jazz as a whole, with astounding creativity and freshnes of approach that is inspirational regardless of personal instrumental practice
It is probably worth adding that I'm sure Elliot woudn't sound like he does today if legends like Watrous, JJ and Fontana hadn't pushed the boundries of jazz trombone as far as they did. Now it is Elliots time, and he is crossing those boudries in every direction. Technically, sonically, creatively and artistically
Eh, I hate to say anyone is definatively the best trombone player because when you say that you have to take Classical Players into account too and then everyone starts to argue about what's harder, etc., etc. but I do have to say he's probably going to end up being the best jazz trombonist that's ever lived.
I completely agree. 'Best' is a particularly suspect word when commenting on any art and it of course only holds weight in the users own opinion. The whole Classical vs Jazz arguement is an interesting one. For me the real influnces on music from the classical world are the composers not the players, with the exeption of a few virtuosi these players rarely inflence music as a whole. Whereas a creative jazz player can inspire new directions and movements in music beyond their own instrument
Good comment. I hate when people bring up the Classical or Jazz subject because of this one simple fact: Musicians at the talent level of Elliot Mason (Whether it be a Jazz trombonist like Wycliffe Gordon or Classical trombonist like Christian Lindberg) play what they studied and what they WANT TO PLAY. Professional musicians do not sit around and argue about what's harder, and they do not compare themselves to other musicians on a regular basis either. Especially those of different styles.
Genius isnt a powerful enough word for this new born king of kings.Ive heard all they greatest trombone players and none of them are able to do what this evolutionary ,genetic freak of nature can do.When other trombone players hear him they go home and cry for hours and hours and are almost always in self deynial because the cutting they get is so deep and so painfull.God bless the new king!
OK..so anyone who is dissing Elliot..I met him Last week and he and his brother Brad worked with my high School Jazz ensemble...and HE IS BEASTLY...so seriously...ya..hes tops ..there arn't alot at his lvl
It's not bebop so he's not going to be "change-playing" and its not a ballad either. It sounds great. And after listening to a it a few times, I'm singing along with several licks-I think its very melodic. It's ok to have your own opinions on music but don't criticize something just because you don't understand it.
yes, he is very melodic. Those that say he is just all chops are not listening closely enough. Let's face it, he has transcended the trombone much like Tiger has transcended golf. It becomes hard to comprehend how the hell he plays lines so angular but so crystal clear.
Good point. No matter how much natural ability you have, there is no getting around it...this guy has definitely practiced his ass off for years and years on end.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
ok can some please tell what's the big deal about this cat anyways? i just can't dig it. clearly the dude has great chops....but other than that not much else. sounds like he's just working his tons of eighth notes shit with no melody in it, with a total lack of variety of phrasing, and complete lack of soul and emotional drive, not to even mention the unconvincing "change-playing"
Of course-he's making the changes. I think Gregorychen was upset that he wasn't playing the changes in like a bebop sense. It's a modal tune...so you're not going to be "change-playing".
I couldnt imagine a more harmonicaly advanced trombone player than Elliot mason.I cant think of anyone who plays as many crazy intervalic lines as him.
nice interweavege pentatonics .nice sound .buitiful flow .nice innerdimensional psycotonics. best trombone player in all realitiesthat ever existed and will to come
It's like his knowledge of isotope teleportation has superceded previous concepts of transmolecularization and he has been reborn to be the new king. Hand selected by God himself...who incidentally has legally changed His name to Elliot Mason.
Remember seeing this guy playing with Gary Husband a few years back and knowing that he was destined for greatness, managed to catch up with him at Ronnie's in London too - he was very generous with his time when I had a word with him.
It is surely only a matter of time before he records an album under his own name. If anybody has the Force Majeure DVD please please upload bits or ALL of it!!!
just when you thought trombone playing couldn't get any cleaner...then comes elliot mason. no one in the world plays like this on trombone. I agree, post more of this guy
The 55 Bar
bulldogg7000 3 months ago
thefutureoftrombone.avi
BassClefPower 3 months ago 2
NICE!
bigsamsfunkynation 5 months ago
NICE!
bigsamsfunkynation 5 months ago
This kat is soo clear!
TeXas10er 6 months ago
He's my teacher, I've learned so much from him! I am a huge advocate of lessons on Skype if you don't live in Chicago or NYC where he is. It's almost exactly the same, on my first lesson actually in person is we never skipped a beat, picked up right where we left off on the Skype lessons. He's a great teacher, he can show you all that stuff he does! His lessons are cheap too, most musicians at his level are too busy to even teach, he just loves doing it!
alexansbe 1 year ago
If you read my previous comments about practice closely, I never say you'll become a *master* with 30 minutes of practice per day, but you certainly can make steady progress and become a *decent* player (which I'd consider playing at a semi-professional level). And it's more than just a theoretical notion of mine, it' worked for me. Why not for you?
Cavadarossi7 1 year ago
Whether it was at an early age (Elliot was supposedly putting in serious hours from elementary school on up), in their adolescent and college years (Justin Vasquez, the alto player on this set, discovered saxophone around the age of 13 and devoured every iota of knowledge he could acquire, practicing up to 9 hours a day by his account), or in their later life, as Sonny Rollins did with his bridge sessions, intense practice is the key to truly mastering this or any other music, no way around it.
altair003 1 year ago
@altair003 i went to school with elliot, moved into the area he lived when i was 10 years old. he was already obsessive, as was bradley...iirc, even then he was putting in 3 hours a day on school days.
SpUnKyTh3MoNk3y 1 year ago
@SpUnKyTh3MoNk3y I heard a recording of Elliot when he was like 16 and he was swingin hard as ever back then too. No wonder though, you can't pay at this level without getting an early start and working your ass off.
Zombbg4 1 year ago
Comment removed
SpUnKyTh3MoNk3y 1 year ago
Some of the practice comments on this page are mind-bogglingly out of line. To say that someone can master an instrument with 30 minutes a day, no matter what kind of practice it is or how good their attitude is or how long they keep it up, is patently ridiculous. Read the bio of or an interview with any jazz master, whether modern or long dead, and borderline obsessive practice at some point in their life is a constant.
altair003 1 year ago
sooo fusion!
alexandredl 1 year ago
Oh my god. 00:32 - 00:42 is unbelievable.
tbone1der8 1 year ago
What tune is this?
jazzbonist 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Very impressive trombone. But a bit over-played. Sometimes less is more. Music must breathe.
reachdanny 2 years ago
Bare in mind the feel that the band is making.
Sometimes it is necessary to play like this.
Bare in mind when Elliot plays on Mana on live in new york he takes advantage of the space...
All the best,
Floyd
FloydBlueElgar 2 years ago
Elliot Mason is a sick t-bone player and thats all that needs to be said!
Tforty187 2 years ago 8
EXACTLY
FloydBlueElgar 1 year ago
Cavadarossi7 Thank you for giving that great explaination, its not how long you practice but what you practice I am not sure people realize that. There are countless musicians who practice 6 to 8 hours a day and sound like crap, most people ask why ???? The reason is because most amateur musicians have no idea on what to practice, that is why there are countless books out on this very topic. Again you can put all the hours in if you are not executing correctly all of those hours are worthless.
MrPeezy80 2 years ago
This is probably a dead horse worth beating: Elliot is the most sophisticated, progressive trombone player ever.
WallofTunes 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
WallofTunes 2 years ago
elliot is one of my long time friends.
he is easily one of the nicest, most positive individuals around...a really great guy who has never lost focus on what he wants say.
seannowell 2 years ago
Continuing my last thought... I think that a belief that you can only reach a high level by practicing 6 hours or more per day is self-limiting. Suppose you can only spare 20-30 minutes per day... why not consider your week's worth of practice the equivalent to one day's intense practice? Sure, you may take six years to make the same progress (instead of one year), but what's the rush? Enjoy getting to know your horn!
Cavadarossi7 2 years ago
Sorry, but with brass playing there is a certain amount of muscle development that must take place to have the flexibility (and strength) to get around the horn the way Elliot does. If 30 minutes a day is all that it took, then everyone could play with this kind of facility. Ask Al Vizutti how much he practiced when he was younger. Even Hal Crook in his books recommends 3 hours a day minimum.
xlfutur1 2 years ago
@xlfutur1
While I agree brass playing requires more time dedicated to technical aspects, I do not agree that 3 hours per day is necessary. That is rather ridiculous and varies entirely from person to person. MrPeezy is exactly right. There have been times in my practicing where I shed for hours and accomplished nothing, but sat at the piano during a commercial break and had a major breakthrough. You have to find what works best for you.
ELPsteel 1 year ago
@xlfutur1
Also, if you followed Hal Crook to the letter, you'd spend the rest of your life playing the millions of examples in his books. I have his "Ready Aim Improvise" book and I find it to be overly verbose, to a fault. Even if you had time to practice all of the arbitrary exercises in there, they probably wouldn't help you. Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" is much better IMO.
ELPsteel 1 year ago
I'll admit that there's an implicit insult in my comment from last week, and that's not against the EM, but rather against all of the other amateur players out there who stay at a mediocre level despite years of effort to the contrary. But that's not my intention... rather I'm saying that reaching a high level is easier than you think, but requires those inputs I mentioned.
Cavadarossi7 2 years ago
You better like Elliot Mason's playing or else he will crush you jazztards with his massive pecks.
hehaww 2 years ago
I think "practicing your ass off" is over-rated. If you read some posts about Elliot Mason on other videos from people who say they know EM, you'll read that he was playing at high levels at an early age. Jiggs Whigham also has said that he never practiced after he was 14 or 15. That's not to say that practicing isn't important, but the right kind of practicing combined with the right instruction is what matters. 30 min/day + good attitude + McChesney's book = steady progress!
Cavadarossi7 2 years ago
I know it's kind of ridiculous... But I'm almost offended by the way you downplay the time and effort Jiggs and Elliot put in to become the technical masters that they are. It takes an extraordinary amount of dedication and time to become as proficient and expressive as both of those players are. During the peak practicing times of their lives, I wouldn't be surprised if they were playing six hours a day.
tsaimoan 2 years ago
(cont)
Sorry, but if becoming a master were as easy as 30 minutes a day and a good attitude, everyone would be doing it. The way you belittle the amazing amount of time and dedication it takes to become a great musician (especially on trombone...) really shows that you have very little experience in the field.
Also, from what I've heard Elliot Mason uses very little doodle tonguing; for a lot of people it's a very unnatural movement and extremely difficult to master.
tsaimoan 2 years ago
There's a reason this man is in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. I'm amazed that idiots here refuse to understand that this man is already, at age 33, the complete progressive trombonist. Imagine how he's gonna bring it 10 years from now.
dubbaCallday 2 years ago 3
the greatest living today...
macree01 2 years ago
Comment removed
macree01 2 years ago
Very impressive. Hold on though. There is always some other monster of a player somewhere in this world who can top even this. Not taking any credit from Elliot. I've never heard or seen anyone with superior technique to accomplish what he does on this video. How does he play a ballad?
reachdanny 2 years ago
Check out his myspace page. There is a clip in his compilation where he plays Body and Soul.
lmalewic 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
look up isaac smith and then you'll see a comparison...
BrawlSmashers 2 years ago
Sorry reachdanny, but Elliot IS that guy that tops someone who you think is good.
Zombbg4 2 years ago
Comment removed
macree01 3 years ago
This is truly awesome stuff..!! I used to go to school with Elliot and he was always streets ahead. If anyone wants to hear him play some 'old' changes then check out his solo on 'it might as well be spring' -recorded before Berkley when he was just 16! (you'll find it on masonbrothersband website).
Anyway, I don't think it is too bold a statement to say; Elliot is the best Trombone player that has ever lived!.......?.......! Who else is there....?
JazzTurkle 3 years ago
Bill Watrous. That's it tho....maybe JJ and Carl Fontana....but Def bill watrous
bmdmaal 3 years ago
Bill of course is one of the most amazing all round technicians on the bone, and there are recordings of his that blow my mind everytime I hear them. The difference I feel is that Bill leaves his mark on all of us brass players and without doubt must be considered an all time trombone master, but I believe that Elliot is already making his mark more firmly on jazz as a whole, with astounding creativity and freshnes of approach that is inspirational regardless of personal instrumental practice
JazzTurkle 2 years ago
It is probably worth adding that I'm sure Elliot woudn't sound like he does today if legends like Watrous, JJ and Fontana hadn't pushed the boundries of jazz trombone as far as they did. Now it is Elliots time, and he is crossing those boudries in every direction. Technically, sonically, creatively and artistically
JazzTurkle 2 years ago
Eh, I hate to say anyone is definatively the best trombone player because when you say that you have to take Classical Players into account too and then everyone starts to argue about what's harder, etc., etc. but I do have to say he's probably going to end up being the best jazz trombonist that's ever lived.
Trombone0817 3 years ago
I completely agree. 'Best' is a particularly suspect word when commenting on any art and it of course only holds weight in the users own opinion. The whole Classical vs Jazz arguement is an interesting one. For me the real influnces on music from the classical world are the composers not the players, with the exeption of a few virtuosi these players rarely inflence music as a whole. Whereas a creative jazz player can inspire new directions and movements in music beyond their own instrument
JazzTurkle 2 years ago
Good comment. I hate when people bring up the Classical or Jazz subject because of this one simple fact: Musicians at the talent level of Elliot Mason (Whether it be a Jazz trombonist like Wycliffe Gordon or Classical trombonist like Christian Lindberg) play what they studied and what they WANT TO PLAY. Professional musicians do not sit around and argue about what's harder, and they do not compare themselves to other musicians on a regular basis either. Especially those of different styles.
Trombone0817 2 years ago
Genius isnt a powerful enough word for this new born king of kings.Ive heard all they greatest trombone players and none of them are able to do what this evolutionary ,genetic freak of nature can do.When other trombone players hear him they go home and cry for hours and hours and are almost always in self deynial because the cutting they get is so deep and so painfull.God bless the new king!
Glockyia 3 years ago
I think you may be going just a wee, tiny, minute, minuscule little bit over the top here old boy.
freeeeeeedy 2 years ago
Thanks Elliot, you're still freakin me out with your chops, since Berklee, almost 10 years ago.... You sound great dude !
spicebones 3 years ago
It's 2008 and Elliot Mason is the man on trombone period. He's light years ahead of everyone else. If you can't hear it then your ears are too small.
5hoele55 3 years ago
OK..so anyone who is dissing Elliot..I met him Last week and he and his brother Brad worked with my high School Jazz ensemble...and HE IS BEASTLY...so seriously...ya..hes tops ..there arn't alot at his lvl
techyelemental 3 years ago
what the heck is a psycotonic? lol,, I'd better learn I guess
trombonist59 3 years ago
It's not bebop so he's not going to be "change-playing" and its not a ballad either. It sounds great. And after listening to a it a few times, I'm singing along with several licks-I think its very melodic. It's ok to have your own opinions on music but don't criticize something just because you don't understand it.
EricBowman25 3 years ago
yes, he is very melodic. Those that say he is just all chops are not listening closely enough. Let's face it, he has transcended the trombone much like Tiger has transcended golf. It becomes hard to comprehend how the hell he plays lines so angular but so crystal clear.
xlfutur1 3 years ago 14
Practice.
freeeeeeedy 2 years ago
Good point. No matter how much natural ability you have, there is no getting around it...this guy has definitely practiced his ass off for years and years on end.
grwebmarketing 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
ok can some please tell what's the big deal about this cat anyways? i just can't dig it. clearly the dude has great chops....but other than that not much else. sounds like he's just working his tons of eighth notes shit with no melody in it, with a total lack of variety of phrasing, and complete lack of soul and emotional drive, not to even mention the unconvincing "change-playing"
go ahead and flame me
gregorychen3 3 years ago
dude. elliot mason is super bad. he IS playing the changes of the tune. listen to it again. transcribe what he's playing. you'll see.
hehaww 3 years ago 3
Of course-he's making the changes. I think Gregorychen was upset that he wasn't playing the changes in like a bebop sense. It's a modal tune...so you're not going to be "change-playing".
EricBowman25 3 years ago 3
just so you all know, he's pretty much sounded like that since he was 18.
seannowell 3 years ago
I sat next to him in NYJO when he was 15 and he was streets ahead of other guys ten years his senior!
bobilleg74 3 years ago
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooOOO. I play tbone, and this doesn't even make any sense. Its like freakin michael brecker
JaredCS 3 years ago
I couldnt imagine a more harmonicaly advanced trombone player than Elliot mason.I cant think of anyone who plays as many crazy intervalic lines as him.
tyranorabit 3 years ago
nice interweavege pentatonics .nice sound .buitiful flow .nice innerdimensional psycotonics. best trombone player in all realitiesthat ever existed and will to come
Glockyia 3 years ago
are innerdimensional psycotonics a form of being freaking awesome
TheZeldaNerd 3 years ago
It's like his knowledge of isotope teleportation has superceded previous concepts of transmolecularization and he has been reborn to be the new king. Hand selected by God himself...who incidentally has legally changed His name to Elliot Mason.
ScanlonJazz 3 years ago
it would be great to see Elliot crush my balls with his pecks and squeeze the liquid all over my face...then I would sound great on Blue Bossa.
0ilwy4tfs 3 years ago 2
I don't see the logic. But thats messed.
JaredCS 3 years ago
Remember seeing this guy playing with Gary Husband a few years back and knowing that he was destined for greatness, managed to catch up with him at Ronnie's in London too - he was very generous with his time when I had a word with him.
It is surely only a matter of time before he records an album under his own name. If anybody has the Force Majeure DVD please please upload bits or ALL of it!!!
johnnyherb 3 years ago
What about just buying the DVD???
bachnerr 2 years ago
Lines flow like saxophone!
karlkrall 3 years ago
Better than 95% of saxophonists too
TheZeldaNerd 3 years ago
elliot is just so far ahead of every other trombone player out there the dudes and a world of his own
musicislife2125 3 years ago 3
I never realized that Michael Brecker played trombone before!
TBoneman098 3 years ago
just when you thought trombone playing couldn't get any cleaner...then comes elliot mason. no one in the world plays like this on trombone. I agree, post more of this guy
xlfutur1 3 years ago 3
Absolutely amazing, so dynamic and the technical skill is amazing. Very original, thanks for uploading this, more please :)
sfsmike 3 years ago 2
oxiclean can't even make clothes that clean
wirrd 3 years ago 3
hell yea
loller345 3 years ago
Man I can't tell you how much I enjoy awsome trombone music like this
DaBassBoner 3 years ago
Thanx 4 posting this! I don't know whether to laugh or cry!
bobilleg74 3 years ago
Very nice!
yasasarus 3 years ago 2