From the Frisco Cricket article Yerba Buena Tuba by Hal Smith, Summer 1998

Bob Short (1911-1976)

Bob Short (1911-1976) was probably the most influential tubaist of the revival, with disciples still playing his ideas in the '90s. Short was playing tuba professionally by 1928 and also managed to learn string bass, banjo and several other instruments by the time he wound up in Portland, Oregon in the mid-'40s. He played cornet and valve trombone with the Rose City Stompers-a group which became the nucleus of the Castle Jazz Band. When the CJB was organized, Short switched to tuba and began to establish his reputation as one of the best of the San Francisco style. In the early '50s, Short moved to the Bay Area to play tuba and cornet with Turk Murphy's Jazz Band at the Italian Village.⁸ Amazingly, he had the ability to switch embouchures from cornet to tuba without missing a beat, such as on the 1952 Turk Murphy recording of Cakewalking Babies.⁹ During the '50s, Short recorded several sessions with Murphy, with Bob Scobey and also the reunited Castle Jazz Band¹⁰ and continued to work frequently with Murphy. In 1963, Short made the "Blues Over Bodega" session with Lu Watters11 and the associated concerts with Turk Murphy.¹² He left the Murphy band permanently in 1964 to concentrate on flying, both as an instructor and pilot. But he still played sessions on cornet, valve trombone, bass and tuba with numerous bands in Northern California.

Bob Short's style was fluid, without being busy. He achieved a big sound and could anchor any kind of rhythm section without playing loudly He always played just the right bass notes, perfectly matching the pianist's left hand and providing the correct root for the other musicians to build on. He also had a superb melodic sense which made his solos memorable.

Published in the The Frisco Cricket, which is available when you Join the Foundation (only $25!).