"Wrong Way" - Sublime

“Wrong Way” (PDF) from the album, Sublime.

Austin trombonist Jon Blondell recorded the greatest trombone solo in rock history. Relying on his jazz background, and an appreciation for the nimble Bill Watrous, Blondell proved that there is clearly a place in rock ‘n roll for the doodle-tongue.

Rock solos should always start big and finish even bigger. Blondell’s cascading entrance is about as high-energy as it gets, while his playfulness is on display with a tease of Gershwin’s theme to “Rhapsody in Blue,” embellished literally with a “nah-nee-nah-nee, nah” and followed by a jazz chromaticism up the fifth in the melody. His extended technique, amplified by the band’s dynamics, gradually builds momentum back into the vocal section where Blondell hits a high E that would make most guitarists scream. As a result, whether it was the jazz trombonist’s intention or not, Jon Blondell’s performance on Sublime’s “Wrong Way” single-handedly confirmed the third wave of ska music in America.

Here’s a YouTube video of Jon Blondell at a Sublime reunion:

Recommended reading/listening: Sound Opinions show #558: Ska.  Produced by WBEZ Chicago.