Urbie Green, one of jazz’s supreme trombone stylists and a versatile sideman, died at the Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown, Pa., on Dec. 31. He was 92.
On the short list of all-time trombone greats, Green had a smooth sound, phrased lyrically, hit difficult notes effortlessly, and made them sound natural. He was also able to fit seamlessly into a wide range of formats: from the big bands of Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, and Benny Goodman to countless ad hoc studio aggregations (like the swing-rooted Buck Clayton jam session LPs) to tailgate antics with Dixieland bands at Eddie Condon’s.
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