RIP Phil Teele

[karelm 2,903]

Tonight, bass trombonist Phil Teele passed. He was a mainstay in the Hollywood studio community for 6 decades and was a total original as a musician and person.

He pioneered the use of the big contrabass trombone in film music and was a world class bass trombonist playing with every film composer you can name including Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Danny Elfman, James Horner, Zimmer, Giacchino, Powell, JNH, etc.

He always wore black and had a sense of humor to match his wardrobe. I don't think I've laughed as hard as the times Phil quietly whispered under his breath one of his outrageous patented one liners, quips or comments.

He will be remembered for his warmth, his groundbreaking method book outlining his unique long tone routine, his incredible playing on probably 1,000 films and his support for any young player seeking advice. I wish his family strength at this difficult time. Thank you so much for everything, Uncle Phil!! 

 

Phil was not only revered in the low brass community of which I am a member of having written brass studies/books/exercises but performed in our favorite scores including playing bass trombone on the following scores:

 

* Lost in Space (the 60's TV show, probably the Bruce Broughton '90's score too)

* Jurassic Park Movies

* Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

* War of the Worlds

* The Terminal

* Minority Report

* Star Wars TFA and The Last Jedi

* Star Trek First Contact, Nemesis

* Men in Black

* ...a bunch of other stuff

 

... plus a bunch of Elliot Goldenthal, Horner, Powell, and Jerry Goldsmith scores.    Star Trek First Contact was a great Goldsmith score.

 

 

[Fabulin 3,510]

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[Oomoog the Ecstatic 314]

RIP also Phil Spector, Phil Roth, and Phil Masinga. And if your name is Phil, sorry I didn't catch it.

[karelm 2,903]

12 hours ago, Fabulin said:

A toast for this contribution 🍷 Could you point to some examples of it? I wonder what can be done with this rather rare bird

Well, very obvious examples are in anything by Goldenthal like this ending.

 

And this from Batman which Phil played on...definitely a tremendous low blow.

 

Low brass really cuts through and it would have been amazing to hear this stuff live.  It probably must have felt like an earthquake.  Also, Phil was very prominent around town and in educational/pedagogical circles having written texts and method books for low brass players.  I have some of them and have seen them in many practice rooms across the country.

[Amy Hernandez 0]

So sad to hear this, he and my father were friends in the 70's and 80's and my first live jazz memory was seeing him play with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band.