It's Paul McKee Day! Man-Oh-MAN, I've been lookin' forward to THIS one! Paul and I have known each other since we were on the road back in the '80s. He is one of my all-time favorite jazz trombonists, composers, arrangers, educators, and he's just a great guy! In a review for the Jeff Benedict Big Band Album "Holmes" where Paul contributed some charts and trombone playing,"The Jazz Reader" website described Paul's playing like this:
"McKee is a born lyricist on the trombone, that dazzles with "slide of hand" and is the heir apparent to former slide masters like Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino."
I couldn't agree more folks! So, dig in and enjoy my conversation with my blood-brother Paul McKee as we discuss trombone, his influences, and background, his writing, and go deliciously "off the rails" LOTS!