Tricky Sam Nanton
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Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (February 1, 1904 - July 20, 1946) was a famous trombonist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Nanton was born in New York City and began playing professionally with bands led by Cliff Jackson and Elmer Snowden. In 1926, he joined Ellington.
He was a pioneer in using the plunger mute with the trombone and, along with Bubber Miley, helped create the Wah-wah sound. He taught Cootie Williams, Miley's replacement, some of the growl and plunger techniques that Miley used. Ellington used Nanton and Miley's unique voicings to create the orchestra's "jungle band" sound, which evolved during their late 1920's engagement at Harlem's "Cotton Club."
Nanton also developed a "Ya-ya" technique which was unique. It was a secret he guarded up until his early death, even from his band mates. It consisted of the insertion of a nonpareil trumpet straight mute into the bell, employment of a large plumber's plunger over the bell, combined with "singing" into the instrument while playing it. The "singing" consisted of changing the cavity of the mouth, by creating different vowel sounds without actually vibrating the vocal cords. By shaping the soft palate to change from "ee" to "ah," the resultant trombone sound resembled a voice singing "ya." This and similar effects were not only radical for their time, they helped produce the unique voicings in Ellington compositions like "The Mooche" and "Mood Indigo."
Nanton died in San Francisco, California on July 20, 1946, while on tour with the Ellington Orchestra.
