Bone Voyage

Well, this is it, folks! After nineteen years with the Airmen of Note and almost twenty-three years in the Air Force, we finally talked them into it: a record with almost all trombone solos! HA!

This album features arrangements by some extremely talented individuals, all of whom just happen to be either members of the "Note" or used to be with the band at one time or another over the past thirty years

Going back farther than anyone is Sammy Nestico who was the arranger, trombonist and, eventually, director of the "Note" in the middle-50's. Sam's arrangement of A Time For Love is a beautiful piece of work, and those of you who are familiar with his writing know he is one of the best -- ever!

Kim Richmond was on the "Note" when I arrived in October of 1965. He was the jazz saxophonist and one of the main contributors of compositions and arrangements at that time The tune Twisted was arranged for the trombone section in 1966 and remains one of the hardest charts to play. It was first recorded in the 70's but was released only for the community service radio show Serenade in Blue. The "bone" section on that recording was joined by the late, great Frank Rosolino

Blue Gardenia was contributed by Tom Baldwin, a former pianist, arranger and my ex-roommate on the band in the late 60's. Tom still plays great and has one of the most super senses of humor of anyone I’ve ever met -- you need one in this business!

One of the finest jazz trombonists to pass through the Airmen of Note was Mike Smukal, Ken's brother. He came to us from North Texas State University and eventually migrated to Las Vegas Nevada. Mike sent an arrangement of Softly, As I Leave You to us, and it was immediately utilized on many, many performances.

There are two ballads on this album arranged by a former pianist with the "Note", Senior Master Sergeant Gil Cray. Gil and I go back to 1961, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida -- our first assignment in the Air Force Band career Field. Gil's writing is some of the best you'll ever hear, and two wonderful examples are Trumpeter's Prayer and And We Will Love Again. You're probably wondering why, with a title like BONE VOYAGE we're doing a trumpet solo. The answer is simple: the soloist, Master Sergeant James Lay, and I have been together as friends for over thirty-seven years, except for a time he spent with the Air Force Band in Germany . Jimmy plays beautifully, and I felt everyone would enjoy hearing one of the finest. And We Will Love Again, written by Patrick Williams, has a beautiful melody, and Gil did a magnificent job on the arrangement featuring trombone and violin -- a great combination if I do say so myself.

Don't Cry Out Loud was arranged for me by Senior Master Sergeant Larry Trautman, the Non-Commissioned-Officer-in-Charge of the "Note." Larry also did another arrangement for me a few albums ago entitled Can You Read My Mind? Both were done superbly. (Too bad we couldn't find a trombone soloist to play them! High E's -- UGH! THANKS LARRY!).

Senior Master Sergeant Rick Whitehead has been the featured guitarist with the Airmen of Note for the last fifteen years. Rick came up with a brainstorm one day and wanted to know if he could write a chart for the “bone" section. I said, "What do you have in mind?" and he said, “Somethin' real simple -- a chorale going into a swing tune and ending in a chorale." I told him it sounded good to me, and he sad “How high do you want to play?” and I said “High enough to get nose bleeds.” Well, right after that was the birth of his arrangement of Easy To Love. It wasn’t until Rick arranged Day In, Day Out that I got nose bleeds, but his arrangement of Alone Together helped coagulate everything. A super talent.

The arrangements by Technical Sergeant David Morgan I'm mentioning last, because, in all actuality, he has the final say in all of this. David’s arrangement of It Ain't Necessarily So also features just "bones and rhythm.” He is an up-and-coming writer, and you're going to hear more from him, I'm sure.

I mentioned that David has the final say -- the last cut on the album is entitled ‘Till We're Together Again. It was written just for the trombones alone. As we recorded it something warm and magical was happening as we layered the parts together. We were actually hearing the heart and soul of a man we knew come to life. As you will hear, there is no other place on the album for it, for it had to be the last sound heard. Thanks. David, for the privilege of being part of such an experience

There is truly no other group like the "Note," and we do hope you enjoy your trip on this BONE VOYAGE!

DAVID STEINMEYER, CMSgt, USAF

Director, Airmen of Note