Carl Fontana - "If I only had a Brain"

[PetersJazz1]

Great music. Really swings

[zchacm2]

I love how he missed a note at 1:19, otherwise I wouldn't believe that he was human

[zzausel]

@zchacm2 intentional

[Toninator808]

I can totally picture a Wizard of Oz montage with this as the background music. Mr. Fontana, I salute you.

[josephsmedley]

he was also the inspiration behing the older gentleman from the disney movie "Up"

[debottona]

Great video! His playing is so fluent that's awesome!

[davidle888]

Mr. Fredrickson can really play! :P Carl was a legend to all trombonists, and this was a beautiful piece that was played.

[Polishjazzman]

Beautiful sound. Very reminiscent of Ferdinand Pavel who played tenor sax with Maynard Ferguson. The sound is like have sound, half air. Beautiful. Thanks for the upload!

[nancy5239]

1998: I took Carl to Budapest where he was guest artist at the Franz Listz Academy's trombone centennial celebration. With his dry coy wit, he rvealed that he planned to record "If I Only Had A Brain" as (A SAMBA!) shortly before he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. In the Green Room, Carl lovingly comped the chords on piano and made me play the melody on my horn-- What a treasure, I have video, but it can't be posted. This is a true story. I love you, Carl. Nancy Woodell McCracken

[BeniDaKidd]

I didn't know the movie Up took his likeness. Right on.

[brunogebarski]

Fabulous, Carl, El Maestro Carl, Doodle tonguing and you name it! Plays his horn "within" as my teacher Raymond Katarzynski was telling me in the 80s! Stay behind! So many trombone players are "not behind" and loud losing control of the horn! Carl is always "behind his instrument" something probably difficult to understand when you have never played any brass instrument! Anyway Carl is the best and look at the incredible technician Watrous: Always behind, so does Jiggs Whiggam: always behind!

[EpicPhalure]

1:19 if you're playing it right, it's wrong. if you're playing it wrong, it's jazz.

[cuzzinvinni]

I have tears in my eyes just listening and recalling that great jazz era.

CuzzinVinni

[Xushaoxi]

this guy looks like the old man from "Up"

[exjazzbassbaz]

this man was a KNOCKOUT pete as well two of the finest musicians of our time.they have given me so much joy through my lifetime and for that i applaud them [loudly] many thanks.

[reversethecurse91]

He looks so relaxed when he is playing, especially his slide hand.

Great take on a great song!

[Katja6937]

he is my idol ♥♥♥

[jlhmusic000]

I play jazz bass trombone, and this guy right here is inspiring me to play tenor trombone in combo things. And, I LOVE HIS QUOTE!

[Lasford7]

The choice of this number was really poignant.Carl alas died of Alzheimers Disease and at the time of this concert there were signs of Carl already having this condition.So this really is a tour --de-force by him.One great musician.

[dubya13207]

@Lasford7 i read that near the end, he couldn't even tell you what a trombone was. but put one in his hand and he was a monster same as always

[DickWhittington1000]

@dubya13207 Now that makes me almost cry and I'm no wimp. My dad has Vascular Dementia (similar to Alzheimers) & even though he was a truck driver, I sure wouldn't put him behind the wheel. Anyway, when I play my trombone, Carl's style: slide technique, tone, use of doodle tonqueing, not over blowing are some things I keep in mind when I know I'm playing the best I possibly can. Carl had it all! WE NEED MORE CARL FONTANA ON YOU TUBE!

[megamerryn]

omg it sais mezzo

[veganwaffle]

Man i always wish i met pete jolly, unfortunately i we introduced to the family after he had past

[HendrixcommaMartin]

He looks like the old man from "Up".

Also, this sounds fantastic!!

[davehorne]

I always liked Pete Jolly. Carl's no slouch either.

Very nice!

[knightmaster18]

I love his "breathy-like" tone, it's so Fat and round; words cannot describe his awesomeness. So inspirational Carl Fontana was.

[mikenoric12690]

hahaha mexican hat dance 1:45

[slowpig]

So much respect for him and all the players on the stage.

This was pure joy !!!

[quelneuf]

Fontana was a gum chewing monster. Bless him and Mr. Jolly.

[cambuma2]

can someone please tell me what year this was recorded in?

thanks!

[mouldyjazz]

Thanks for the chords Ted jr.

Bone around the world are probably in their back rooms watching this and practicing it up for a performance of 20. i know I will be. It's such a cute song.

Many thanks,

J

[asmith0887]

transcribe it :)

[mouldyjazz]

@asmith0887 I'm workin' on the transcription but I'm a bit of a dumbo so it will be a while and probably won't be right, but hey, it all helps.

[jazzmusic1937]

carl is old here but he is the same mr spit that played 5 greatest trombone solos on kentons intermission riff maybe of any horn player you still sound great mr spit

[basstbones]

does anyone know the chord changes???

[tedwilsonjr]

@basstbones

This is the basic progression:

Bb-Gm7/Cm7-F7/Bb-Eb7/Dm7-G7

Cm7/F7/Bb-Gm7/Cm7-F7

Bb-Gm7/Cm7-F7/Bb-Eb7/Dm7-G7

Cm7/F7/Bb-Gm7/Fm7-Bb7

EbMaj7-Em7b5-A7/Dm7-G7/Cm7-F7/­Bb/

Am7(b5 maybe)-D7/Gm/C7/Cm7-F7/

Bb-Gm7/Cm7-F7/Bb-Eb7/Dm7-G7

Cm7/F7/Bb-Gm7/Cm7-F7

[shoegazer666]

Not many people can play with such grace; let alone at that age. .

:(

[170672346]

The superb Mr Fontana........and what a joy to hear Pete Jolly soloing so beautifully too.

[randylikesdrums]

Those Italians Kick ass on the T-Bone!

[MrFlydaddy1]

I love his Keep It Simple Stupid method. I feel like jazzbonist today try to add so many ornamintatons that they lose any melodic structure. Mr. Fontana has such a beautiful blend.

[lexidart]

@MrFlydaddy1 AND with all that ornamentation they throw time and feel out the window also.

[ripplingrhythm]

To pollyparamedic: Actually, the original key for this song was E flat (it's played here in B flat).

[ripplingrhythm]

Even at less than the height of his powers, this man made so much music it was simply stunning; though he's gone now, his linear concept will live forever -on it's own, and through his MANY disciples, whether trombonists or others- and his musical cleverness and sophistication (when was the last time you heard someone quote "The Mexican Hat Dance?) were in a league of their own. Carl was an old friend of my family (from LSU days), and I'm grateful to the person who posted this- THANK YOU!!

[SuperJazzbone]

Awesome arrangement and playing. Love Carl's style.

[shunta19801130]

Thank you for posting this GREAT video :-)

He always sound beautiful and smooth. Amazing.

[link714]

anyone know what kind of horn hes using?

[themadtrombonist]

Notice the nut there at the top of the main brace? I'm not sure about other brands, but the Edwards trombones have removable bells with the threads right there. If I had to guess, I'd say Edwards T302. Could be mistaken and I'm not totally sure, so don't start posting comments about how much I don't know about anything, because I already admitted it.

[Dumpinbeats]

anyone know where the sheet music is for this arrangment?

[tbonechs2010]

on your next piece of manuscript paper... (transcribe)

:)

[Dumpinbeats]

does anyone know who wrote this or how i could get my hands on the chords they use in here cause I want to play this for a combo

[icedrum2]

The song was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. It was featured in the film The Wizard of Oz

[pollyparamedic]

The original is is F, I don't think this is in F.

[asmith0887]

@Dumpinbeats transcribe it

[doublealufwaffe]

@Dumpinbeats, the chords are in the video.

[eloyhere]

@Dumpinbeats .

There are also Jamey Abersold CD's with books that have chords... and Many other chord study courses. Hey, you might even find some here on UTube...

[musicman4495]

Transcribe it yo!



[musicman4495]

@Dumpinbeats

Transcribe it man!

[TopCastRadio]

I've listened to this over and over and get something new from it each time.

[allnwbone]

this is nice, don't think iv quite herd a sound as smooth, clear and yet still so outspoken as this...

[wfbone]

i ve always thought his solos were some of the best

[tboneking5]

sweeeeeet this is awesome =D

[inioshishi]

Thanks for uploading this video !

[TopCastRadio]

Carl was a master and that's an understatement.

[jazzbassbone2000]

Amazing!

[Laanen]

miss you Carl

[calliemadcow]

Thats my uncle

[kaloebone]

great great great great great greatgreat great great great great great great greatgreat great great great great great great greatgreat great great great great great great greatgreat great.............