Chris Tune, trombone
” I was lucky to tour parts of the world with various groups including Canada, Spain, the Caribbean, Panama, Columbia, and many points in domestic USA.”
Q: Who has inspired you musically?
A: “James Pankow, Harold Diner (my private teacher) Frank Rosolino, Urbie Green, and Dick Nash all inspired my playing. As I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, I studied in North Hollywood with Harold Diner who had been a studio musician under contract to Paramount Pictures for decades. I first worked to be a highly flexible “studio” style musician later getting further training at LA Valley College with Dick Carlson, and at USC with Terry Cravens. I started right around the same time Chicago and BS&T were popular. Mr. Diner assured that I would be able to do anything needed on the horn, especially SIGHT READING. I have sought to be able to work in Symphony settings, Jazz settings and even in Rock or Top 40 style settings.”
Q: Other groups that you perform with – present and past?
A: “I have performed with several “Rat Pack” style groups, LA Winds, the San Fernando Valley Symphony, Flight 584 Jazz Band a great big band, as well as with Angel City Band, and Deluxe Big Band. I was lucky to tour parts of the world with various groups including Canada, Spain, the Caribbean, Panama, Columbia, and many points in domestic USA. For a time I was one of a few who played lead trombone in the ghost band of the “The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra”. I played lead trombone in The Leroy Lovett Orchestra and in the trombone section of Pat Longo’s Hollywood Big Band. While still just out of college I worked with horn group “We the People””
Q: Favorite horn groups?
A: “Chicago – the pinnacle. Blood Sweat and Tears. Naturally big bands like Count Basie and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra are very big inspirations to horn playing for me.”
Q: Other interests?
A: “I am also a degreed and experienced accountant and have some decent time as a professional computer programmer especially in finance applications. For years I worked in securities industry regulation and compliance. Presently I work as a controller for a small business in the Los Angeles, CA area. I enjoy building my own PC computers and doing similar IT projects.”
Q: Anything else musically to share?
A: “For the 1992 World’s Fair (Seville, Spain) I was part of a Glendale, CA based jazz band which represented USA at their pavilion and played daily concerts there. This orchestra grew out of the interests of various scientists and engineers at Cal Tech or JPL, and played regularly for many years in Glendale. We stayed for around two weeks in Spain and got to see wonderful sights such as the Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia. It’s a historic site with amazing architecture and history.”