Bill Watrous trombone solo ''Softly as I Leave You'' from his first solo album

Bill Watrous trombone solo ''Softly as I Leave You'' from his first solo album In Love Again

[BillSmith-rxrm]

I'm a trumpeter but love Bill Watrous. When he was traveling with his big band in 1976, they were the featured artist at a high school jazz festival competition when I was a senior in high school. Later in the afternoon the various band sections had a seminar with the high school bands sections. After a disappointing session with Bill's trumpet section (Danny Stiles was an ass, totally disinterested and appeared as if he was annoyed at having even to be there), walking back to the main room, there stood Bill Watrous in the doorway with a group of students around him. I walked up and stood directly in front of Bill, we were face to face as he was giving his playing demonstration. Wow! After their show, I stood in line to get Bill's autograph. As I approached him he looked at me and asked me what school band I was with. When I told him, he said, "oh yeah I watched your performance. You have a good lip." And that's my experience and story with Bill that I have never forgotten all these years later. I pondered whether that was just a line he used on everybody, but he didn't ask and I didn't tell him that I was the lead trumpet player in my school band, so how would he know to say I have a good lip? I'd like to believe that he was really listening. With a fantastic lip that Bill had, him telling me, just a high school player, that I had a good lip, really made me feel good. Bill seemed like he was a great guy. RIP

[rosskoning]

This was an amazing trombonist; we lost a fabulous example. Rest in Peace after leaving us softly!

[charlesmoak]

Once in a century or millennium you witness someone who has no peers. I first heard him in 1968.  I was twenty years old.  I couldn't believe it.  I still can't.  Nevertheless, Bill is among us.  We're grateful.
  

[putzgadol]

Nobody on any instrument plays ballads as good as this man. His attacks and releases are perfection.

[theressamurphy]

The best Trombone music that I have ever heard😍💖 What a gift this man was.

[m.j.mcilroy]

Bill's 1st album. Recorded around 1965-1967. His sound and vibrato were the most beautiful I have ever heard, before or since.

[mmcs]

This is one of my favorite songs ever, but I've never heard this version, simply stunning

[geraldnichols]

I've never seen a photo of Bill like that one on the cover! He probably was mistaken for Urbie Green often when he looked like that IMO. Beautiful sound as usual. RIP Bill.
I pray you and Urbie are playing duets in Heaven.

[markhickup]

My dad an I (mostly me) always tried to find the playing of this on FM radios easy listening stations: loved it.  I have seen Bill in concert since 1975 and have taken many of my trombone students to hear him play.  Splendid playing tone, a nice guy as i had met him on several occasions. I listen every day to this as well remembering my dad.

[mattburgess]

I started trombone in 1967.My dad heard this album in his car by 1968 at the latest. We couldn't find it in discount and department stores back then unfortunately. On the flip side I have met Bill and seen him in concert 4 times

[Kingtrombone]

Urbie Green admired Bill, for he was the only other trombonist that came even close to his beautiful sound. I met, and played, with a very good student of Bill's about ten years ago in Philli, and you know what? Rod sounds like Bill! Just stunning.

[neil]

Actually Green and Watrous both emulated Bill Pearce, who was not so well known because he performed Sacred/Gospel music. Listen on YouTube and compare.

[bobgilbert]

Bill Watrous is a marvelous musician and master of the trombone. I like this sound on this recording so much better than later on when he seemed to have adopted playing extremely close to the microphone which resulted in a muffled tone. I assumed that he did this so that he could play a whole lot of notes within a given time frame, at very low volume. I had occasion to attend several times an annual jazz festival at which both Watrous and Urbie Green were performing. I carried along a batch of old LPs of each of them, and got them to sign. Urbie was the model that I attempted to emulate as a young player. Of course, I never came close. Watrous came along later. I learned at a Watrous concert that he is also an accomplished whistler.

[raulomargarcia]

such great finesse! Reminds me of Dave Steinmeyer playing.

[OpiZ]

Such a beautiful piece to play! I play this everyday. I've always wanted to meet Bill.

[neil]

If I hadn’t read the intro, and closed my eyes while listening, I would surely think I was hearing Bill Pearce.

[larrysmith]

I've never seen a picture of Bill without his Moe haircut. I used to run into him at Rob Stewart's Instrument Repair. Rob showed me a mangled Bach slide once. Bill was in his hotel room cleaning his slide and decided to lift it up into the light to check for tiny dings. He forgot the ceiling fan was on and the outer slide was ripped from his hands and took two laps of the room before falling on the floor.

[ducciocastelli]

Daniel.. that is the effect of the large vibrato, and also  his personal taste, that  sustains the key to give it a special brilliant impact, a brighter colour.  In a way, it is something that when it comes to timing (and swing appears), could make a classic teacher say that the metronome is not continously  and strictly respected. Mind you: Watrous is a Jazzman!

[gusvespa]

THANK YOU for posting these songs. i've had a couple of copies of this great album since 1981, and actually met the woman to whom it was dedicated. i think his lungs were actually a pair of huge air compressors, lol.

[brianthompson]

One of the tb greats! Up there with Bill Pearce!