An excellent interview on the living legend, Adolph Herseth. It’s a long interview, but well worth your time. It also contains many excerpts of Bud’s famous performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. No one produces a sound on our instrument like he does.
Recommended Music!
Head Hunters – Herbie Hancock
The Fire of The Fundamentals – Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Def Trance Beat – Steve Coleman and the Five Elements
The Legacy of Stan Kenton – U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors
Wagner for Orchestra – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Tower of Power!
Tower of Power is one of the best horn bands of all time. They’ve been going strong since 1968 with a sound like no other in the business-a blend of R&B, Jazz, Funk, and Soul. The five piece horn section has always featured strong trumpet players and here are some great examples:
And last, a full concert from 1985 at Iowa State University:
Army Blues play Stardust!
The Army Blues playing the classic rendition of “Stardust” as played by Doc Severinsen. Mark Wood on the solo book. Killer band with a killer trumpet section!
Recommended Music!
Chicago XXVI: Live In Concert – Chicago
Dear Ella – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Trilogy – Kenny Garrett
The Holman and Russo Charts – Stan Kenton Big Band
Gypsy: Original Broadway Recording – Styne/Sondheim
Playgrounds for Angels – Brass Partout, Herman Baumann
More Mnozil Brass!
These guys are INSANE! Enjoy!
Recommended Music!
Classic Sinatra – Frank Sinatra
Chicago XXVI: Live In Concert – Chicago
Long Live The Chief – Count Basie Orchestra
Music For Organ, Brass, and Percussion – Michael Murray: Empire Brass
Copland: American Songs – Hugh Wolff: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Warren Luening, R.I.P.
L.A. studio trumpet player Warren Luening passed away March 18th of complications from cancer. He was one of the best “unsung” heroes of the L.A. studio scene, having played on dozens of movie soundtracks, the Lawrence Welk show, Bob Florence, Rosemary Clooney, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and most recently the “Dancing With The Stars” orchestra. Warren, in my opinion, was one of the best “unknown” trumpet players (except to the trumpet community of course), ever.
A great writeup and obituary (with videos) can be found here.
Recommended Music!
Count Plays Duke – Count Basie Orchestra
Impressions: The Covers EP – Mayer Hawthorne
Tower of Power 40th Anniversary – Tower of Power
Keep ‘Em Flying – Airmen of Note
Copland: The Music of America – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kunzel
The Reiner Sound – Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
Maurice André, 1933-2012
Another legend in the trumpet world has left us. French trumpeter Maurice André, known for his spectacular piccolo trumpet playing, passed away a few days ago. His sound and musicianship have been an inspiration to trumpet players for decades. Some argue that Maurice was the best classical trumpet soloist on the planet. Others say that he had great joy in his playing, akin to a young child, and that was what made him special. I believe that Maurice will be remembered among the great icons of trumpet playing like Raphael Mendez and Louis Armstrong. He will certainly be missed.