Dick Shearer
Encyclopedia
Dick Shearer was an American
jazz trombonist
.
He is most famous for his work as lead trombonist and music director for the Stan Kenton
Orchestra, since taking over the lead chair from Jim Trimble
in the late 1960s until Kenton's death in 1979. He led the band during Kenton's illnesses, and produced several of the band's last recordings. From 1979 to 1982 Shearer was the director of Wayne State University
's (Detroit) Jazz Bands.
Shearer's lead trombone style is characterized in up-tempo tunes by aggressive, wide slide vibrato at the end of held notes, often climaxed with a "tear-off", a technique frequently utilized by lead trumpet players. This technique rarely carries over into the Kenton "ensemble ballads", however.
In soft ensemble passages (such as the famous Dee Barton
arrangement of "Here's That Rainy Day
"), Shearer plays extremely softly, achieving a true orchestral pianissimo; this technique allows the later ensemble climax to seem even more powerful. Shearer also championed what is referred to as the "breath attack", whereby repeated notes (usually in a ballad) are not tongued, but are given an extra "push" of air.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
.
He is most famous for his work as lead trombonist and music director for the Stan Kenton
Stan Kenton
Stanley Newcomb "Stan" Kenton was a pianist, composer, and arranger who led a highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz orchestra. In later years he was widely active as an educator....
Orchestra, since taking over the lead chair from Jim Trimble
Jim Trimble
James W. "Jim" Trimble was a football coach who served as head coach in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League, but his legacy is more connected to football products, thanks to his "slingshot" goal posts...
in the late 1960s until Kenton's death in 1979. He led the band during Kenton's illnesses, and produced several of the band's last recordings. From 1979 to 1982 Shearer was the director of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
's (Detroit) Jazz Bands.
Shearer's lead trombone style is characterized in up-tempo tunes by aggressive, wide slide vibrato at the end of held notes, often climaxed with a "tear-off", a technique frequently utilized by lead trumpet players. This technique rarely carries over into the Kenton "ensemble ballads", however.
In soft ensemble passages (such as the famous Dee Barton
Dee Barton
Dee Barton was an American film score composer noted for his horror-esque style of composing in action thriller films...
arrangement of "Here's That Rainy Day
Here's That Rainy Day
"Here's That Rainy Day" is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke, published in 1953. It was introduced by Dolores Gray in the Broadway musical Carnival in Flanders...
"), Shearer plays extremely softly, achieving a true orchestral pianissimo; this technique allows the later ensemble climax to seem even more powerful. Shearer also championed what is referred to as the "breath attack", whereby repeated notes (usually in a ballad) are not tongued, but are given an extra "push" of air.