04/13/2026
Jiggs Whigham has had a legendary career with King trombones. For Jazz Appreciation Month, we've asked him about the influences on his performance and composing career!
🟡 Urbie Green
“Urbie was one of my heroes - and still is. His magnificent sound and style (similar to Perry Como and other great singers) introduced a new concept in trombone playing! Strangely enough, his concept and superb playing have been sorely underrated by some."
🟡 J.J. Johnson
“Of course, J.J. Johnson. Again, his concept and ‘honest’ sound helped form my own musical conception.”
🟡 Tommy Dorsey
“Tommy Dorsey was one of the greats. Impeccable phrasing and responsible for influencing generations of great trombonists - and big bands.”
🟡 Béla Bartók - Igor Stravinsky - Sergei Prokofiev
“The music of Bartók, Stravinsky, Prokofiev... from his First Symphony, through the popular ‘Peter and the Wolf’ and the Third Piano Concerto…all wonderful!!!”
🟡 Johann Sebastian Bach
“ANYTHING composed by J.S. Bach. To date, the very greatest of them all! Hard to think that Bach fell out of favor the last twenty years of his life!?!?!? Thankfully rediscovered by another great - Mendelssohn.”
