Tom Bartlett – Keeper of the Turk Tradition

Above: The Salty Dogs Chris Stind, cornet, Jack Kuncl, banjo, Mike Walbridge, tuba, Tom Bartlett, trombone - Photo by David Jewell

AUTHOR: By Hal Smith

Published in the Jazz Rambler August 2012

Anyone who pays attention to Tom Bartlett’s playing stance with the Yerba Buena Stompers may notice that it resembles Turk Murphy’s. Being aware that Tom admires everything pertaining to Turk, all similarities to the legendary trombonist’s iconic sound, vocal phrasing (and playing stance) are anything but coincidental!

Tom was already getting kudos for his dedication to the Murphy trombone style when he played with the campus version of the Salty Dogs at Purdue University. Fortunately, that band recorded for the Audiophile label in the early ‘60’s. Listeners who are familiar with Tom’s current-day sound can hear that he always played that way!

After serving in the Peace Corps, and a hitch in the U.S. Army, Tom settled in the Chicago area. He was invited to join the Original (i.e. professional) Salty Dogs when charter member and trombonist Jim Snyder moved to the East Coast. Tom has been with the Original Salty Dogs ever since.

Above: Tom Bartlett

During the 1970’s, the Salty Dogs played many times at the St. Louis Ragtime Festival on the Goldenrod Showboat in St. Louis, where Turk Murphy’s San Francisco Jazz Band was also on the program.

Tom and Turk played trombone duets on many occasions in St. Louis, (and also at the Emporium of Jazz in Mendota, Minnesota.) Turk respected Tom’s musical talent and admired him as a person. The friendship endured off the bandstand, too.

On one occasion, Tom was able to oversee the repair of Turk’s horn in record time, after it was damaged when Turk fell. Tom also utilized his graphic arts skills to design album covers and other artwork for Turk and the band.

Later, Tom worked with Traditional groups such as the Red Rose Ragtime Band, South Frisco Jazz Band, Chicago Footwarmers, West End Jazz Band, Bob Schulz’s Frisco Jazz Band, Ernie Carson’s Capital City Jazz Band, Varsity Ramblers and this writer’s Down Home Jazz Band. He also recorded with some of these groups and it is still possible to obtain the recordings from dealers who specialize in Jazz on small labels.

During the late 1990’s Tom was on the faculty of San Diego’s AFCDJS Adult Jazz Camp. He was definitely an inspiration to the trombone students, who still speak fondly regarding Tom’s instruction methods and his personality.

When John Gill organized the Yerba Buena Stompers, he asked Tom Bartlett to play trombone with the band. A dozen years later, Tom is still playing “The Truth” – San Francisco Style – with the Stompers. Coincidentally, 2012 will mark the Stompers’ 12th appearance at the San Diego Thanksgiving Festival!

Back in Chicago, Tom teaches bilingual fourth grade classes, plays with the strolling Dixieland band at Chicago Cubs home games and continues to design CD covers and other jazz-related items.

When you hear him play, there is never a question who is his main influence. Since his days with the campus Salty Dogs, Tom has always been the “go-to” guy for Turk Murphy-style trombone!