Emil Orth, trombonist
Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 2:21 pm
I played tons of gigs with this gent - in-and-away-from Memphis, over the decades.
My own Dad moved to the Ozarks around 1980 or so (just about the time I quit my kolig teechin' job, and moved back to Memphis, only lived a handful of years, once he moved there).
As such, Emil became my surrogate Dad. (I believe Emil was born in/around Houston...?? around 1929 - as opposed to my own Dad who was born in 1916.) Emil had served in the Marines in the late 1940's. He and I got a kick out of each other, and - when gigs were out-of-town - we made certain that we rode in the same vehicle (etc.) He died several years ago, and - today - would be in his 90's. In his last year, he sort of lost his mind but not really...He simply lost the ability to remember more than approximately two or three minutes of the present...so he might ask "Hey bloke, how've you been?" a few times or he might play an extra chorus in a tune (having forgotten that he had played one or two already). In his final year, his wife would have him get his trombone out the night before a next-night gig, ask him to play a bunch of songs, and then put him to bed. They next day, she would have him bath, dress, and sit in the kitchen with his trombone - waiting for me to take him to the various gigs.
This, though, was - pretty much - back in his prime...in the 1980's (though he played just as well in the 1950's - 1970's).
He's not the one who played in the "Hot Cotton Jazz Band". Though an amazing player (and arguably, a superior ensemble player) Clive Collins was actualy the second choice as that band's trombonist, as Emil (6'5" handsome Texan) had his own band, the "River City Six" (which was also a fine band).
I worked with his band in fancy clubs, and out of town (several years) at the W.C. Handy Festival in Florence, Alabama...until my summer repair load became way too hectic.
Emil knew the best (ie. worst) jokes, and would say the most profound (blunt) things. Besides all of this lickety-spilt stuff (in these two videos) he was an amazing ballads/blues player as well. That completely-closed plunger stuff that he did was amazing (at least, to me).
Here's Emil subbing with Paul Gray's band (based in Lawrence, Kansas) at some festival...
My own Dad moved to the Ozarks around 1980 or so (just about the time I quit my kolig teechin' job, and moved back to Memphis, only lived a handful of years, once he moved there).
As such, Emil became my surrogate Dad. (I believe Emil was born in/around Houston...?? around 1929 - as opposed to my own Dad who was born in 1916.) Emil had served in the Marines in the late 1940's. He and I got a kick out of each other, and - when gigs were out-of-town - we made certain that we rode in the same vehicle (etc.) He died several years ago, and - today - would be in his 90's. In his last year, he sort of lost his mind but not really...He simply lost the ability to remember more than approximately two or three minutes of the present...so he might ask "Hey bloke, how've you been?" a few times or he might play an extra chorus in a tune (having forgotten that he had played one or two already). In his final year, his wife would have him get his trombone out the night before a next-night gig, ask him to play a bunch of songs, and then put him to bed. They next day, she would have him bath, dress, and sit in the kitchen with his trombone - waiting for me to take him to the various gigs.
This, though, was - pretty much - back in his prime...in the 1980's (though he played just as well in the 1950's - 1970's).
He's not the one who played in the "Hot Cotton Jazz Band". Though an amazing player (and arguably, a superior ensemble player) Clive Collins was actualy the second choice as that band's trombonist, as Emil (6'5" handsome Texan) had his own band, the "River City Six" (which was also a fine band).
I worked with his band in fancy clubs, and out of town (several years) at the W.C. Handy Festival in Florence, Alabama...until my summer repair load became way too hectic.
Emil knew the best (ie. worst) jokes, and would say the most profound (blunt) things. Besides all of this lickety-spilt stuff (in these two videos) he was an amazing ballads/blues player as well. That completely-closed plunger stuff that he did was amazing (at least, to me).
Here's Emil subbing with Paul Gray's band (based in Lawrence, Kansas) at some festival...