I played in a group backing up Slide at the 1984 Brass Congress at Indiana University. We arrived for the rehearsal and were blown away by how great he sounded. At the break, we gathered around him and asked "how do you do that?" Slide told us to play ideas in all the keys "very slowly." We all knew that you should play ideas in all the keys, but I had never really slowed things down. When I tried it, I found that the ideas became more or less automatic. If you listen to him play, you hear that he is not just wandering around the horn, but is playing interesting idea after interesting idea. Slide has really blessed this earth with his presence. Same with Clark Terry. Where did these great souls come from?
I would imagine the genius in Clark and Slide come from allowing themselves to be vessel’s for the music. Slide’s advice is spot on, develop the ideas you’re hearing in your head slowly. Just like any language, it will be become second nature.
Slide gave you the Father to Son gaze of pride while you were playing. BTW,knowing your lovely wife, I'm sure she has a significant beret stash !! Thanks so much for sharing this part of your musical journey.
@@TheChopsShop for sure. I teach brass at a high school and college. I encourage all of my students to listen to Slide. Not just as a musician but for life lessons also. I grew up in Jersey and was fortunate enough to be able to hear some of the greats in NYC and NJ. Man was I lucky.
That was a great tribute. He had such an intense gaze, so concentrated even when looking at sheet music that you know he had seen hundreds of times before. I especially enjoyed watching him nod in approval as you played your solo. Thanks for sharing your memories of Slide with us. It was a great reminder of the importance of being a good person and a great mentor.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Great observation, it was intense and loving all at the same time. That's required in order for you to make someone better. Slide made us all better!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with Slide! I had the honor of backing Slide with a big band 20 years ago. That experience influences my playing today. I remember him saying that he'd be going back to the hotel to practice after the gig! It's an amazing experience to share moments with a genius and a master, and very humbling. And, you sound fabulous!
What an inspiration Slide is. It’s amazing to hear him practicing after the gig was not a one off event! I guess it’s like shooting free throws after the game. Thanks for checking out the video.
Beautiful tribute, and thank you for sharing this incredible photography. What an honour! I only had a chance to meet Slide once, and it has stuck with me for my whole life.
I had the privilege to be an acquaintance of Harold Betters during the last handful of years of his life. Mr. Betters spoke highly of Slide and the influence he had on his playing. They did an album together in 1965.
@@TheChopsShop He has about a half a dozen releases to listen to. After his death in 2020 they remastered his recordings. My favorite is At the Encore ! He loved to play “pretty” …He told me he tried to sound like a French Horn. There’s an interview with him on You Tube you would enjoy.
Great stuff man wow ……can you tell us what trombone Slided played ? This was your best video it would be so cool to study under your. I see why you’re always smiling you have such a beautiful wife and you’re a wonderful trombone player. God bless you and your family.
Thank you for the kind words. At the end of his career slide was playing a custom german trombone. I'm not sure of the name of the brand but I had never heard of it before. The bell was huge, I can tell you that! Thank you for checking out the content.
Thanks for putting this together from your passions. A lovely tribute. I feel like I know a bit more about this master. Curious what type of trombone he is playing-- seems to be a rather large bell.
I think Slide played a custom German horn. The bell was huge and he played on a huge mouthpiece, something like a Bach 1 or 2G. It helped him get that warm sound but he always had to practice to make that setup work. Thanks for checking out the content!
@@TheChopsShop I am experimenting with my own favorite soloing horn. Since I play bass a lot, I have a rather large mouthpiece on a medium bore. I need to make some changes to get better response (messing with my counterweight) The tone and ease of playing in the mid register is perfect, but my high range isn't automatic so I know why Slide H. had to practice so much!
@@TheChopsShop I took off about 2/3 of my counterweight mass for today's rehearsal and got some of that finesse I was missing back! Also seeing the video at the end with both Slide and You playing was important to distinguish the tone of his big setup contrasting your sound! I don't fully trust recordings as a judge of tone until I can see comparison. Do you have basically a small bore setup?
To be honest I don't know Carl Fontana's playing like that. I know it when I hear it and I think he's great Iv'e just never dug into his playing. Maybe that's the video right there, me checking out his music and learning some of his style!
@@TheChopsShop To me Fontana is a Vegas man at the core, he's not gonna push in so many directions but he's a master in his own laid back style. Great video on slide btw keep it up!
Mastering your own style is the most challenging thing to do, Fontana certainly did that. At some point I’ll put some more time into learning his playing. Thanks for checking out the video!
Interesting stuff Dion , I'm happy to say my chops have overcome since the loss of bottom front tooth and your advise on keeping the horn on my face 😉 I'm now in the slur zone. I am having one problem and that is controlled trilling , they are through practise there but not controlled trills, any ideas in how I can have more success ?
Do you practice lip trills with a metronome? Pick a slow tempo and start trilling eighth notes then triplets then sixteenth's. Keep them even and in time. Speed up the metronome little by little and you'll be on your way.
@The Chops Shop thank you , yeah it's time I did work with metronome , I will start this process tomorrow 😊 my practise is physically finished chops will not allow anymore practise , physically 😳😉😊🙄🙄 till tomorrow 👍
@@TheChopsShop hi , it does work , I need endurance to last a good 8 hrs a day without being too tired , maybe it's too much to work towards , maybe I spent being away from playing too long 15/16 years is a long time Dion. I've been back playing two years now and I cnt play for more than 45 mins without rest , I mean before I gave up playing I could do 4 hrs easily, all I can do is hope with continuity that my endurance will come back. It's a funny one I'll tell ya and sometimes I scream at my horn but its not the horn its "me" lol
Think of your playing time as mini sessions. Every phrase is a mini session then you get to take a quick break. Don’t focus on the work you have to do, enjoy the rest you get to take! You will have more endurance because you actually know how rest.
Should I double tounging for sixteenth notes at 120 bpm it is really hard to do it normally but, I'm also bad at double tounging so, I'm not sure what to do. Also, what is your position on circular breathing? Do you do it or recommend it?
If the tempo is 120 bpm I would definitely double-tongue the sixteenth notes. Don’t think so much about what you’re doing with your tongue. Listen to the sound of the note you’re articulating. Circular breathing has it’s place. In most musical situations you don’t have to use it but having it available can help. I can’t circular breathe so I don’t use it.
Slide Hampton is my grandfather, I really enjoyed your tribute, thanks sir.
Great.
Thanks!🙏🏾
I played in a group backing up Slide at the 1984 Brass Congress at Indiana University. We arrived for the rehearsal and were blown away by how great he sounded. At the break, we gathered around him and asked "how do you do that?" Slide told us to play ideas in all the keys "very slowly." We all knew that you should play ideas in all the keys, but I had never really slowed things down. When I tried it, I found that the ideas became more or less automatic. If you listen to him play, you hear that he is not just wandering around the horn, but is playing interesting idea after interesting idea. Slide has really blessed this earth with his presence. Same with Clark Terry. Where did these great souls come from?
I would imagine the genius in Clark and Slide come from allowing themselves to be vessel’s for the music. Slide’s advice is spot on, develop the ideas you’re hearing in your head slowly. Just like any language, it will be become second nature.
Slide gave you the Father to Son gaze of pride while you were playing. BTW,knowing your lovely wife, I'm sure she has a significant beret stash !! Thanks so much for sharing this part of your musical journey.
It’s a pleasure to share.
Sweet wife, great stories and amazing photos!
🙏🏾Thanks for watching!
How Slide looked at you when you were playing says it all... Wow, that's to be remembered for ever !
Intense and loving all at the same time!
Slide was the reason I picked up the trombone 30 yrs ago.
He’s the reason I continue to pick up the horn to this day.
@@TheChopsShop for sure. I teach brass at a high school and college. I encourage all of my students to listen to Slide. Not just as a musician but for life lessons also. I grew up in Jersey and was fortunate enough to be able to hear some of the greats in NYC and NJ. Man was I lucky.
I absolutely love your solo afer Slide when he pointed to you! dynamic!
Oh the fear that rushed through my body after he pointed at me😐. Thanks for the love!
That was a great tribute. He had such an intense gaze, so concentrated even when looking at sheet music that you know he had seen hundreds of times before. I especially enjoyed watching him nod in approval as you played your solo. Thanks for sharing your memories of Slide with us. It was a great reminder of the importance of being a good person and a great mentor.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Great observation, it was intense and loving all at the same time. That's required in order for you to make someone better. Slide made us all better!
Fantastic presentation Dion!! Thank you for your contributions!!
Thank you Reggie! I'll be in your neck of the woods in a few months. I'll definitely reach out!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with Slide! I had the honor of backing Slide with a big band 20 years ago. That experience influences my playing today. I remember him saying that he'd be going back to the hotel to practice after the gig! It's an amazing experience to share moments with a genius and a master, and very humbling. And, you sound fabulous!
What an inspiration Slide is. It’s amazing to hear him practicing after the gig was not a one off event! I guess it’s like shooting free throws after the game. Thanks for checking out the video.
Beautiful tribute, and thank you for sharing this incredible photography. What an honour! I only had a chance to meet Slide once, and it has stuck with me for my whole life.
Thanks for watching. It was crazy to reminisce on these precious moments as I put this video together. All hail Slide Hampton!
We miss you Slide! Great video brother Tucker🔥
Thank you, it was great going through all of my memories of Slide. 🙏🏾
I had the privilege to be an acquaintance of Harold Betters during the last handful of years of his life. Mr. Betters spoke highly of Slide and the influence he had on his playing. They did an album together in 1965.
Oh wow, Harold Betters is a name I’ve seen on an album with Slide. I would love to hear about more recordings he’s on.
@@TheChopsShop He has about a half a dozen releases to listen to. After his death in 2020 they remastered his recordings. My favorite is At the Encore ! He loved to play “pretty” …He told me he tried to sound like a French Horn. There’s an interview with him on You Tube you would enjoy.
@@sea6bear thanks for this information. I will be checking him out more.
I love your photos, especially the one at 12:50. Super expressive.
Thanks so much. I love photography as much as I love playing music. Art is art I guess. 🤷🏾♂️
which type of shires do you play? thanks for your time, greetings from Greece sir!
Thank for sharing this - interesting stories and beautiful photos! Slide will live on.
Thanks for checking out the content!
Solid top 5 musicians
Great stuff man wow ……can you tell us what trombone Slided played ? This was your best video it would be so cool to study under your. I see why you’re always smiling you have such a beautiful wife and you’re a wonderful trombone player. God bless you and your family.
Thank you for the kind words. At the end of his career slide was playing a custom german trombone. I'm not sure of the name of the brand but I had never heard of it before. The bell was huge, I can tell you that! Thank you for checking out the content.
Thanks for putting this together from your passions. A lovely tribute. I feel like I know a bit more about this master. Curious what type of trombone he is playing-- seems to be a rather large bell.
I think Slide played a custom German horn. The bell was huge and he played on a huge mouthpiece, something like a Bach 1 or 2G. It helped him get that warm sound but he always had to practice to make that setup work. Thanks for checking out the content!
@@TheChopsShop I am experimenting with my own favorite soloing horn. Since I play bass a lot, I have a rather large mouthpiece on a medium bore. I need to make some changes to get better response (messing with my counterweight) The tone and ease of playing in the mid register is perfect, but my high range isn't automatic so I know why Slide H. had to practice so much!
And Slide had the nerve to make it look and sound so easy. I’m like “come on man, stop it!”
@@TheChopsShop the video doesn't lie! 🤣🤣🤣
@@TheChopsShop I took off about 2/3 of my counterweight mass for today's rehearsal and got some of that finesse I was missing back! Also seeing the video at the end with both Slide and You playing was important to distinguish the tone of his big setup contrasting your sound! I don't fully trust recordings as a judge of tone until I can see comparison. Do you have basically a small bore setup?
Any chance for a Carl Fontana video? I know he isn't the biggest out there but his fluidity of motion is a real goal of mine
To be honest I don't know Carl Fontana's playing like that. I know it when I hear it and I think he's great Iv'e just never dug into his playing. Maybe that's the video right there, me checking out his music and learning some of his style!
@@TheChopsShop To me Fontana is a Vegas man at the core, he's not gonna push in so many directions but he's a master in his own laid back style. Great video on slide btw keep it up!
Mastering your own style is the most challenging thing to do, Fontana certainly did that. At some point I’ll put some more time into learning his playing. Thanks for checking out the video!
Interesting stuff Dion , I'm happy to say my chops have overcome since the loss of bottom front tooth and your advise on keeping the horn on my face 😉 I'm now in the slur zone. I am having one problem and that is controlled trilling , they are through practise there but not controlled trills, any ideas in how I can have more success ?
Do you practice lip trills with a metronome? Pick a slow tempo and start trilling eighth notes then triplets then sixteenth's. Keep them even and in time. Speed up the metronome little by little and you'll be on your way.
@The Chops Shop thank you , yeah it's time I did work with metronome , I will start this process tomorrow 😊 my practise is physically finished chops will not allow anymore practise , physically 😳😉😊🙄🙄 till tomorrow 👍
Resting is just as important as playing. Enjoy your time away and come back fresh. I hope the exercise helps!
@@TheChopsShop hi , it does work , I need endurance to last a good 8 hrs a day without being too tired , maybe it's too much to work towards , maybe I spent being away from playing too long 15/16 years is a long time Dion. I've been back playing two years now and I cnt play for more than 45 mins without rest , I mean before I gave up playing I could do 4 hrs easily, all I can do is hope with continuity that my endurance will come back. It's a funny one I'll tell ya and sometimes I scream at my horn but its not the horn its "me" lol
Think of your playing time as mini sessions. Every phrase is a mini session then you get to take a quick break. Don’t focus on the work you have to do, enjoy the rest you get to take! You will have more endurance because you actually know how rest.
Should I double tounging for sixteenth notes at 120 bpm it is really hard to do it normally but, I'm also bad at double tounging so, I'm not sure what to do. Also, what is your position on circular breathing? Do you do it or recommend it?
If the tempo is 120 bpm I would definitely double-tongue the sixteenth notes. Don’t think so much about what you’re doing with your tongue. Listen to the sound of the note you’re articulating.
Circular breathing has it’s place. In most musical situations you don’t have to use it but having it available can help. I can’t circular breathe so I don’t use it.
You’re official if you get a co-sign from Slide!
I was happy to just be around him.
No more great videos anymore?
Yes, there will be. I’m stacking a few videos now so I can release them with some kind of consistency. Hang tight!