Over the years, many performers have attempted the famous song ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ from Rimsky-Korsakov. This performance is a must-watch as Staff Sgt. Carmen Russo plays it on trombone in a fun-filled song titled, ‘The Trombone Meets the Bumblebee.’ He is accompanied by the incredible U.S. Army Field Band.
The song starts with Russo nailing some intense riffs and high notes. Then, he goes into the main part of the song, which is blazing fast. The trombone slide is moving so quickly it is hard to imagine the number of hours he had to practice.
After the first solo, Russo takes a break, and the band plays comical cartoon music while he gets a drink and massages his face and lips. Meanwhile, a mischievous bandmate has snuck on stage behind him and switched his trombone to a smaller one.
This smaller ‘alto’ trombone is now in place when he returns to his spot from break. He puts his arms out in confusion and gives a quick look to the audience, and the band pauses. He gets a laugh from the crowd.
He walks up to the alto trombone and gets out a tape measure to check the size. The audience and band laugh right along with the routine. He picks it up and shows the crowd, making a sad face. The band starts back up again, and Russo is forced to play this miniature trombone.
He plays it masterfully through a fury of fast notes. He puts it down to take another break, and this time he looks back at it after he leaves, checking to see if it has changed. The zany cartoon music continues as he takes a drink and applies chapstick.
His bandmate sneaks behind him and places an even smaller ‘soprano’ trombone on the stand. It looks like a child’s toy. She sticks her tongue out behind his back and sneaks back off stage. When Russo turns and sees the tiny instrument, he hangs his head in sadness, walking toward it slowly.
He picks it up while pretending to cry. The conductor offers him a handkerchief. He attempts to hold it and pulls the little slide right off it. Then, he plays the final part of the song and nails it! The audience responds with loud applause as he runs off stage quickly, being chased by his bandmate with a Tuba!
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