A tribute to the greatest jazz trombonists of all time, “The Art of the Slide” features five amazing slide masters backed by a top notch rhythm section. They will be presenting famous tunes from the very best to ever hold a trombone, from Tommy Dorsey all the way through to JJ Johnson and the modern greats.
Our trombones:
Martin Gladdish
Born in Leicestershire, Martin Gladdish moved to London in 1998 to take up a scholarship to the jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music. Since then Martin has been a regular on London’s jazz scene, often playing at its best-known venues. Groups that Martin has played in regularly include: Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Gillespiana, Mitch Winehouse, Steve Waterman’s Big Band, Steve Waterman’s Stablemates, The Don Weller Big Band, Mike Garrick’s Big Band, The London Jazz Orchestra, BBC Big Band, Cayenne, Roberto Pla’s Latin Ensemble, Ray Gelato (both in the UK and across Europe), Derek Nash’s Sax Appeal big band and Hackney Colliery Band. And he has recorded or broadcast with: Jamie Cullum: Pointless Nostalgic, Mike Garrick Orchestra: various, Steve Waterman: October Arrival, NYJO: various, Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Band (with Eric Clapton), plus numerous recording sessions across London.
Tom White
Trombonist Tom White has been a fixture on the London scene for the past fifteen years now, performing and recording internationally with an array of different bands and artists including: Jamiroquai, Level 42, Incognito, Olly Murs, Emeli Sandé, Damon Albarn, Scouting For Girls, Gloria Gaynor, Stan Sulzmann Big Band, Jean Toussaint (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), Gareth Lockrane, David Murray Big Band and Jamie Cullum amongst others.
Steve Clarke
Steve grew up in Northampton as part of a musical family in the Salvation Army. He started to play percussion and euphonium at an early age and joined the County Youth brass band. After lessons with his incredible teacher, Rachel Coles, Steve was awarded the Malcom Tyler award in 1995. A year later he joined the Band of the Irish Guards as principle euphonium and toured the globe playing solos and duets at some of the best concert halls the world has to offer. After an accident and a few back operations in 2006 he dipped his toe into the dark world of the bass trombone and held the bass trombone chair not only in the Irish Guards but the Army big band, Guards big band and the phenomenal ten piece brass group, Guards Brass. After leaving the Guards in 2018, Steve has been in demand as a freelance bass trombonist which sees him regularly on stage with The World Famous Elvis Tour, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Chris Dean’s Syd Laurence Orchestra and the Denmark Street big band to name a few. This year has seen Steve in the Drury Lane theatre for the 50th anniversary of Pippin as well as many big bands up and down the country. Steve has now rejoined the military and serves with the world famous Coldstream guards band and is still pursuing freelance work.
Chris Valentine
Chris Valentine has been working as a trombonist, director and producer across the UK music scene for the past 14 years. In that time he has worked with major artists that include Tom Fletcher (McFly), Gregory Porter, Jamie Cullum, & Liv Warfield (Prince). He regularly appears in big bands and small ensembles at jazz venues in and around london and has performed on award winning albums.
Michael Pilley
A versatile trombonist, Michael Pilley has performed all over the world in top class venues (Hamer Hall, Melbourne; Ford Centre, Detroit; Sadlers Wells, London), with performances as a soloist and sideman. Also an in-demand arranger and an award-winning composer, he is the south-east representative for the British Trombone Society, and leads the South Coast Trombone Choir.