Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
"In August 1955, we began rehearsing the Five Trombones 
charts during the day. Those songs were very difficult for us. We were not used to doing the charts as they were written, and we weren't free to change these. Some of his chords were written so our notes fit in among the notes played by the trombones. The chords in many cases were not the ones we would have chosen.
charts during the day. Those songs were very difficult for us. We were not used to doing the charts as they were written, and we weren't free to change these. Some of his chords were written so our notes fit in among the notes played by the trombones. The chords in many cases were not the ones we would have chosen.Don [Barbour] let it bug him so much that he got uptight one afternoon, tossed a glass against the wall and stomped out. We weren't sure we'd be able to talk Don into going ahead with the album...
"We came back to Los Angeles, and on August 17 went in to record. We stood in a three-sided isolation booth so our 
microphone would not pick up the trombones across the room. The first night we started recording Love Is Just Around the Corner. Arranger Pete Rugolo [pictured] decided to warm up the musicians first.
microphone would not pick up the trombones across the room. The first night we started recording Love Is Just Around the Corner. Arranger Pete Rugolo [pictured] decided to warm up the musicians first."He purposefully counted it off way too fast. These trombone players had all played Rugolo charts before, and they knew each other well. 
George Roberts [pictured], Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson, Frank Rosolino and Milt Bernhart started to play that trombone chorus, but at Pete's fast tempo it just became a shambles. They didn't even make two bars. Pete counted it off extra fast again, with the same disastrous result.
George Roberts [pictured], Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson, Frank Rosolino and Milt Bernhart started to play that trombone chorus, but at Pete's fast tempo it just became a shambles. They didn't even make two bars. Pete counted it off extra fast again, with the same disastrous result."Finally, he said, 'Okay, let's try it real slow.' Then he counted it off with the tempo where it belonged, and they got it. Pete told them he'd actually wanted the slower tempo all along. Everybody had a good laugh, and the ice was broken. The rest of the band included Claude Williamson on piano, Barney Kessel, guitar, Shelly Manne, drums, and Joe Mondragon, bass...
"We probably sang better on the Five Trombones album 
than on any other because we had rehearsed and rehearsed. We knew every note. Four Freshmen and Five Trombones became the most successful album we ever made, but it also was the most difficult to complete."
—Ross Barbour, founding member of the Four Freshmen, in his memoir Now You Know: The Story of the Four Freshmen. than on any other because we had rehearsed and rehearsed. We knew every note. Four Freshmen and Five Trombones became the most successful album we ever made, but it also was the most difficult to complete."http://www.jazzwax.com/2010/10/ross-barbour-said-it.html
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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