Michael Rath Trombones - News and Events

Reggie Watkins is now playing Rath

Reggie Watkings At the recent ITF, Mick was able to meet up with US trombone star Reggie Watkins. Reggie had been interested in Rath trombones for a few years, but it wasn't until we were able to meet up in Austin that we were able to set up Reggie with his own R2.

Reggie was the musical director for Maynard Ferguson for many years and has also performed with many musical greats including Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Dianne Schuur, Jose Feliciano, Urbie Green, Christian Castro, The Temptations, The Ojays, James Moody, Benny Green, Michael Feinstein, Poogie Bell, Roger Humphries, and Denis DiBlasio.

It's great to have Reggie playing his R2 and we're really excited to be working with him.

For more information on Reggie, including details of his tour with Jason Mraz, visit Reggie's website.

Introducing the new JP/Rath Bb/F tenor student trombones

We're delighted to be able to introduce the latest additions to our student trombones range, the JP331/Rath and JP332/Rath Bb/F tenor trombones.

Since we launched our first student trombone, the JP/Rath 231 last year, we have been inundated with requests from players and teachers worldwide for student Bb/F tenors in both medium-large and large bore.

The initial feedback on the new models has been fantastic, and we're sure that these are going to be as successful as the earlier models.

If you're lucky enough to be at the ITF in Austin, Texas this week you can be among the first to get your hands on the new trombones.

For more information, specifications and images go through to our student trombone area.

The new JP331/Rath and JP332/Rath Bb/F tenor trombones will be available from September 1st, priced at just £699 inc. vat for UK customers. They'll be available directly from us or from your Rath distributor.

Michael Rath Trombones on Facebook

Now there's a new way to keep in touch with everything that's going on in the Rath trombone world. Our new Facebook page has the very latest news, photos, videos and other features.

We'll also be running some very special "Facebook-only" offers, so make sure you sign up!

You can also find us on Twitter here.

Visiting Rath

If you're planning to visit us to test and setup your Rath trombone, please have a look at the new "Visiting Us" page for lots of useful information.

The Ultimate Custom Finish

We're delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for you to add a completely custom, unique finish to your trombone.

Artist Andrew Matthews produced this highly detailed, intricate engraving on an R4 bell flare as an example of the way that you can make your Rath trombone something even more personal.

This can be something as straightforward as adding your name to the bell flare, or something much more complex. There's really no limit on what can be achieved!

For more images of the bell, please visit our Flickr gallery. If you'd like more information on a personal custom finish like this one please contact us.

Dutch Bass Trombone Open 2010

Our friends at Atelier Pfeiffer are delighted to announce that this year's Dutch Bass Trombone Open is taking place from the 8th to the 10th of October.

This year the featured artists are Mark Frost, Ben van Dijk, Brandt Attema, Martin van den Berg and Jos Jansen who will be presenting a series of masterclasses, performances and directing ensembles.

The DBTO is aimed at all bass trombonists regardless of age or ability - it's really an event that everyone can take part in, enjoy and learn an enormous amount about the bass trombone.

It's being held at the beautiful Oud-Poelgeest castle which is only 15 minutes from Amsterdam's Schipol airport, making it very easy to get to for international visitors.

One of the featured artists in the 2008 DBTO was Doug Yeo of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who wrote a review of his experience.

You can find out more about the DBTO and register for the event at the DBTO website.

Introducing our next student trombone - the JP230/Rath

We're delighted to announce that our next student trombone, the JP230/Rath is now available.

Building on the success of our first student trombone, the JP230 is the "classic" student trombone size, ideal for beginners and younger students.

We recently sent one to Dillon Music, and asked our friend Mike Dease to try it out.

The JP230/Rath is 0.500" medium bore has a 7 1/2" bell flare. You can find more information in our special student trombone section.

The new JP230/Rath is available now, retailing at just £355 inc. vat for UK customers. To order, simply call 01484 660555 or contact us.

Carol Jarvis - "Smile"

Carol Jarvis is one of those musicians for whom "versatile" doesn't even come close to covering what she does.

She performs regularly with all of the major UK orchestras as well as touring with Sting, Michael Bolton and Seal.

In October 2004 Carol, aged 26, was diagnosed with stage 2a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which she's still battling.

To raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research she put together a selection of some of London's best session players to record "Smile", her first solo album.

It features a mix of standards and original compositions written especially for the CD, but above all some superlative playing.

Add a cover portrait painted by none other than Rolf Harris and you really have something very special.

You can get your copy of "Smile" here and as well as some great music, you can also help support a very worthwhile cause at the same time.

Visit Carol's website at caroljarvis.com and follow her on Twitter @jarvbone

Unique instruments

When Bruce Collings came to see us in November 2009, he was looking for something a little more than just a new R4F.

Bruce is part of Musik Fabrik, a contemporary music group based in Germany, where Marco Blaauw, the ensemble's trumpet player had been using a double belled trumpet for some time.

Bruce was keen to try this concept on a trombone and we were happy to put this together for him.

The second bell is actually our alto sackbut design, which gives a great contrast between the two bell flares. You can also use regular trumpet mutes with the sackbut bell as well, giving Bruce lots more possibilties.

The second bell fits into the valve wrap and can be used with a rounded crook which brings the second bell round to the front of the trombone, or a straight crook which takes the second bell straight out behind Bruce!

It gives a whole new meaning to antiphonal playing!

Projects like this can be challenging, but a lot of fun at the same time. If you have something that's a little out of the ordinary, why don't you contact us about it?

You can see more photos of Bruce and his double belled R4F on our Flickr gallery.

"This is a great new horn!" - Michael Dease and the JP231/Rath trombone

Our friend and amazing jazz trombonist Michael Dease sent us this video after we'd asked him to try out the new JP231/Rath student trombone.

Here's what Mike had to say about the trombone:

"You asked for the truth, and here it is: this is a GREAT new horn-not too small or too big with a creamy tone and built like a tank. This kind of instrument is versatile, delivers the top-shelf Michael Rath sound, and is priced right for kids and folks that may not be ready to afford a custom instrument. "

John Rojak - "I plan on playing my new Rath bass trombone for the next 30 years"

We're fortunate to work with some oustanding musicians; none more so than American bass trombonist John Rojak. Anyone who has heard John play can testify to his outstanding musicianship and after 32 years playing the same bass trombone we were delighted to help him find his new instrument.

Visit John's page in our Artists section here.

The new JP231/Rath student trombone is available now!

We're delighted to say that since we announced the launch of our new student trombone, we've had even more great feedback from players, teachers and students from around the world.

We now have the JP231/Rath in stock and we've just started to send out orders. If you're one of the many people who pre-ordred the JP231/Rath please bear with us we are getting through the orders just as fast as we can.

It's also going to be available from our international distributors. They are currently in stock at Dillon Music, in New Jersey, USA and we will also have trombones at Atelier Pfeiffer in the Netherlands, and the Gramophone in Canada very soon.

To order, please call us on 01484 660555 or contact us.

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