Introduction
Randy Aldcroft is a Canadian-American jazz trombonist. He has worked with several notable musicians including Conte Candoli, Dinah Shore, Bob Jung, Terry Gibbs, Natalie Cole, and Frank Sinatra, among others.
Life and career
Randy Aldcroft was born in Toronto, Canada, where he studied the trombone with Harry Hawe, then principal trombonist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under Ernest MacMillan.
After moving to Los Angeles, California, with his family, Randy studied arranging and composition in high school. During those years, he formed a big band with noted Los Angeles musicians like saxophonist Joe Maini, trumpeter Conte Candoli, trombonist Frank Rosolino, saxophonist/flutist Bill Perkins, trumpeter Ollie Mitchell, and guitarist Joe Pass.
He then joined the US Army and spent 3 years in the Norad Band as the lead and bass trombone and on the arranging staff, performing worldwide. He also recorded for the Armed Forces Radio Network.
After returning to Los Angeles, Randy worked as a freelance musician. He worked for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, a theatre/opera company, playing over 30 musicals. He also worked at television studios for various shows, including the Dinah Shore TV Show for 5 years on the trombone and euphonium, and as an arranger; the Merv Griffin Show; the Carol Burnett Show; and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno as trombonist and arranger.
In 1969, Randy played on the album Jung! for Bob Jung And His Orchestra alongside Lennie Mitchell (baritone saxophone); Jack Sperling (drums); Don McGinnis (electric bass); Joe Pass (guitar); Dick Hyde (trombone); and Buddy Childers, Conte Candoli, Ralph Osborn (trumpet).
After recording "Operation Entertainment" with the Terry Gibbs Band, he worked with the big bands of Mike Barone, Bob Florence, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Bill Holman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Louis Bellson, Slide Hampton, Gordon Brisker, Frank Capp, Henry Mancini, Bill Potts, Dee Barton, Dick Cary, Jack Sheldon, Don Menzaand with Kai Winding.
In 1987, Randy played trombone on Gordon Brisker's album New Beginning with Kim Richmond (alto saxophone, clarinet); Bob Sheppard (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute); Victor Lewis (drums); Dave Black (percussion); John Beasley (piano); Gordon Brisker (tenor saxophone); Doug Webb (tenor saxophone, flute); and Carl Saunders, Bob Summers (trumpet, flugelhorn). The same year, he recorded Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas with The Hollywood Trombones.
Over the years, Randy has played or recorded with many other famed jazz and contemporary music legends including Natalie Cole, Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Puff Daddy, Gladys Knight, Herb Alpert, Stevie Nicks, Ry Cooder, Randy Newman, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Julio Iglesias, Carlos Santana, The Commodores, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and The Spinners.
In 2005, Randy played trombone on two episodes of Stephen Ives' PBS documentary American Experience—"Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 1" (aired November 14, 2005) and "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Part 2" (aired November 15, 2005).
Compositions
Randy's composition of "Love Song" was covered in the album Cornerstone by Gordon Brisker featuring Tom Harrell in 1984. The following year, his "Breakfast Wine" was recorded by Bobby Shew Quartet. The album was also titled Breakfast Wine.
Randy's compositions of "Trickey Lix" and "Somebody's Samba" were recorded in 1991 by Jim Self as part of the album titled Trickey Lix.
Books
Randy has also authored several books and sheet music.
Selected publications:
- Famous Jazz Duets for Euphonium & Tuba Volume 1 (Cherry Classics Music, 2011)
- Famous Jazz Duets for Tenor and Bass Trombone Volume 2 (Cherry Classics Music, 2016)
- The Song of Renny Paperback (Wentworth Press, 2019)
- Jazz Duets for Tubas or Bass Trombones, Volume 1 (Cherry Classics Music, 2020)
- Jazz Duets for Tubas or Bass Trombones, Volume 2 (Cherry Classics Music, 2020)
- Jazz Duets for Tubas or Bass Trombones, Volume 3 (Cherry Classics Music, 2020)