The Incredible Kai Winding--His Official
Website
Caricature of Kai Winding by Bill
Utterback for Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
These drawings were created for each of the Jazz Poll winners each
year.
Kai placed third place in this particular poll (1966), right behind
J.J. Johnson and Si Zentner, just ahead of Bob Brookmeyer.
This drawing was done in February 1967.
EQUIPMENT:
Kai and the King® Trombone--What Kai Played
Kai Winding played King trombones exclusively for most of his career. King still makes the 2B and 3B model of professional jazz tenor trombones and these models are pictured below. The following quote is from the King instruments website:
"Over the years, many famous
professionals have endorsed King instruments. Tommy Dorsey used a
King trombone throughout his career. His brother, Jimmy, also played
King instruments. Others include William Bell, Ray Anthony, Vaughn
Monroe, Johnny "Scat" Davis, Harry James, Nat Adderley, Kai Winding,
Yusef Lateef, Cannonball Adderley and Mel
Davis."
King Model 2102 Straight Tenor
Trombone
Legend, 2B model, .481/.491" (12.22/12.47mm) dual bore, 7-3/8"
(187mm) bell, nickel silver outer slides, lacquer finish.
This classic jazz trombone is noted for its projection and excellent
upper range.
This is but one style of the King 2B jazz tenor
trombone. There is an additional model of it not pictured here
which difference includes a sterling silver bell (Model 2102-SGX).
Kai may have used the 2102 version of the 2B (pictured above) because
his wife recalls the following:
"It was hard to tell
[which model he played] because he had them modified and the
weight with the brand removed. He had the whole thing
dipped in acid to lighten it and then had it replated."
And from discographer Piet
VanEngelen:
[Photo of Kai
Winding's own trombone]
"He always played a 2B, only
at the end of the 50s and beginning of the 60s he had a 3B.
Ezshwan gave me one of his horns and I still play it. As you
probably know, a standard 2B is a dual bore horn (.481 .491) - Kai
would use .491 on both slidehalves. Then the slide was lighweight,
e.g., he used a trumpet spitcrane. Also, the bell was
lightwight. The one I have was and is
goldplated. Jiggs
Whigham's horn looks a bit like Kai's. I remember talking to him
about this. At that time, however, he had a special 2B with a red
brass lightweight bell. Kai's horns were built at King by Chuck
Ward."
[Photo of
mouthpiece belonging to Kai Winding]
"Kai used a specially-made
Giardinelli mouthpiecer [pictured above], rather small,
something like a Bach 12C".
King ® Model 2102L Straight Tenor
Trombone
Legend 2B, lightweight.
Jiggs Whigham model, .491" (12.47mm) bore, 7-3/8" (187mm) bell,
nickel silver outer slides, lightweight slide, lacquer finish.
An ultra-lightweight horn for exciting jazz lead performance.
The more commonly seen model of the King 2B
jazz tenor trombone, which comes without the counterweight on the
main tuning slide. This particular model as seen here is pictured on
many of Kai Winding's albums and also on his music books. There
is also a variation of this model (Model 2102LS) which has the
purpose of providing a short tuning slide for extended first position
in order to do a true slide vibrato in first position.
King Model 2103 Straight Tenor
Trombone
Legend 3B. The preferred jazz trombone.
.508" (12.9mm) bore, 8" (203mm) bell, nickel silver outer slides,
lacquer finish.
The most versatile commerical trombone in the world, suitable for
both lead and solo playing.
Also available as Model 2103-SGX with sterling silver bell. It is most likely that Kai Winding did not play this particular model himself, but it is included here to complete the series of professional jazz tenor trombones that King manufactures. The primary differences between the 3B and 2B models is the larger inner bore and larger outer bell size of the 3B.
METHOD: How did Kai
play? (as related to the Pivot System® playing method for cupped
mouthpiece brass instruments)
The information below was discovered, researched and throughly documented by Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt, inventor of the Pivot System® for cupped mouthpiece brass instruments. The diagram below is taken from his "Encyclopedia of the Pivot System" published by Charles Colin Publishers, New York, (1964) and the text contained in the Adobe Acrobat documents below is also copyrighted by Dr. Reinhardt and quoted from books he wrote on this method. The Encyclopedia is still available for purchase from the publisher.
The assistance of David
Sheetz - who is carrying on the teachings of the Pivot System®
for Dr. Reinhardt - is gratefully acknowledged for providing these
materials for use on this site. Also, and just for the
record - Kai Winding's framed photograph hung in the downtown
Philadelphia studio of Dr. Reinhardt. Both Kai and J.J. Johnson
were present in Doc's studio for lessons on occasion
(see
story
below). The
framed photo of Kai hung there in the studio as a permanent fixture
for many years.
Kai Winding was
classified as a "Type IVA" player in the Reinhardt Pivot System®.
A thorough, technical explanation of what this means is
contained within the Adobe Acrobat documents below. Simply put, it
means that Kai's mouthpiece placement on the embouchure was very low
and that the direction of the airstream into the trombone mouthpiece
was upwards, not downwards. Kai also held his trombone at a downward
angle as opposed to straight out or parallel to the ground when he
played, and all of these factors together classify him as a "Type
IVA" player.
For the following pages you
must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed or the browser
plug-in to view:
