100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves

100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves – for trombone

100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves by Andrew D. Gordon is a comprehensive instructional collection for trombonists who want to develop groove, rhythm, improvisational skills and authentic phrasing across funk, soul and R&B. The book features 100 different grooves inspired by the musical traditions of some of the artists and bands that helped define these styles.

Andrew D. Gordon is a highly experienced music educator and the author of more than 70 educational products covering blues, Latin music, brass instruments and a wide range of contemporary styles. Here, his passion for funk is transformed into practical material that allows trombonists to practise within the sound and feel of a complete rhythm section.

Inspired by James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and more

The 100 grooves draw inspiration from the musical worlds of artists including James Brown, Herbie Hancock, The Crusaders, Average White Band, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Parliament, Ramsey Lewis, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, MFSB and Billy Preston.

Rather than providing transcriptions of specific songs, the material explores original exercises and grooves built around the stylistic language of funk, soul and R&B. This gives players a vocabulary of rhythmic and melodic ideas that can later be applied to ensemble playing, improvisation and their own musical situations.

Latin, reggae and calypso influences

Alongside funk, soul and R&B, Gordon includes a selection of Afro-Caribbean influenced grooves drawing on styles such as Latin, reggae and calypso. These additional styles broaden the rhythmic scope of the book and provide opportunities to explore different approaches to syncopation, accents and rhythmic placement.

The material is particularly suited to intermediate and advanced trombonists who want to become more comfortable in groove-based music while developing timing, articulation, phrasing and a stronger sense of how to sit naturally within a rhythm section.

100 recorded examples with full rhythm section

Every one of the 100 grooves has been recorded with the trombone part accompanied by guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, with percussion also featured on many tracks. Players can first hear how the trombone part interacts with the rhythm section before working on the groove themselves.

More than 5 hours of Play-Along tracks

Each groove also includes an approximately three-minute Play-Along track without the trombone part. This allows you to take the lead and practise with the rhythm section, providing more than five hours of Play-Along material across the complete collection.

By combining technical study with the experience of playing alongside a band, 100 Ultimate Soul, Funk and R&B Grooves offers a practical way to develop rhythmic confidence and a more authentic feel for funk, soul, R&B and related styles.