Practice Mutes have become accepted as a necessary evil for brass players. They are not an ideal way of preparing yourself, however there are times where we all accept that you just need to practice or warm-up quietly. Listed below are a number of mutes currently available that will all do the job. They will all have different strengths though, so I have tried to demystify them somewhat with this ‘Buying Guide’.
'Design Innovations' is a series of articles looking at new and innovative developments in trumpet design, as well as gadgets and tools that are designed to make our practice and performance easier. First in the series is the Gapper™. David Hunsicker, the inventor, is currently the trumpet professor at Wichita State University and Principal Trumpet of … Continue reading Design Innovations : Gapper
Getting the right balance of protection and portability in a trumpet case or gig bag is always a challenge. And add to that being able to actually fit in everything that you need and then carry it without breaking your back... Gig bigs or soft cases have long been a popular alternative to hard cases to cut down on weight, but there is often a huge compromise to be made in it's level of protection for your valuable instruments. I was keen to see a new range on the market from Fultone Brass - the Ft Series.
"There are so many recordings that I am very proud of, but maybe the proudest moment was the first time I worked with my son."
Lee Adams from his custom shop in Atlanta, as well as the Jerome Callet trumpets and Flugels, exclusively offers the Northern Brass Mouthpieces by GR at Callet.com. The brief on these designs was to create a range of mouthpieces that can help to give a really solid upper register while at the same time solving some of … Continue reading Northern Brass: Mouthpiece Review
Winston Byrd has made a career out of drawing on many different styles including classical, blues, pop, jazz and improvisation. One of Winston's big breaks at a young age was to become a member of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and he has gone on to have a career working with a 'who's who' … Continue reading Trumpet Artist Profile: Winston Byrd
Vince DiMartino is sought after as both a trumpet performer and educator. His vast wealth of performance experience includes lead and solo work with the Lionel Hampton Band, Chuck Mangione Band and Clark Terry Band. Vince has appeared as soloist with top orchestras and bands throughout the USA and also has numerous solo recording projects. … Continue reading Trumpet Artist Profile: Vince DiMartino
D.H. Lawrence writes: “Never set a child afloat on the flat sea of life with only one sail to catch the wind.” The same could easily be said about trumpet students and the importance of developing versatility in not only their playing but also their outlook on life.
Johnny Thirkell is one of the most recorded trumpet players still working today. Through the 80s and 90s, as well as being a member of Level 42, Swing Out Sister and Jamiroquai, he has also worked with George Michael, Bruno Mars, Phil Collins, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Eric Clapton, Buddy Rich, The Who and Tina Turner. He has performed on over 6000 recordings including 23 No.1 records – most recently the Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson smash, “Uptown Funk”. The list goes on and on!!
Freddie Gavita is a young trumpet player at the top of his game. The trumpet category winner at the 2017 British Jazz Awards is receiving critical acclaim for his debut album ‘Transient’ as well universal admiration for his stunning playing with the Ronnie Scott’s Club Quintet alongside many other projects. I have caught up with … Continue reading Freddie Gavita: Interview & Instrument Review
With a trumpet in his hands, Eric Miyashiro is a force of nature. The powerful sound, blistering range and flamboyant lyrical playing suggest a very different personality to the one that I met! Eric is one of the gentlest, nicest people that I have come across so I was thrilled when he agreed to spend some time doing this interview for Mouthpiece Online…
Established in 2006, Frate Precision is the brainchild of trumpet graduate and expert metal-worker Dario Frate. From the facility in Lombardy, Italy they offer a broad range of mouthpieces that are growing in recognition and popularity around the world.Dario has kindly shared some of his thoughts and experiences with me below, followed by a review … Continue reading Frate Precision: Interview and Mouthpiece Review
The past few years has seen a number of new Bb models enter the Vincent Bach catalogue. Below is a summary... LT1901B Commercial LT weight #1 bell with French bead 5” bell, standard weight 2-piece valve section with bronze upper, custom #43 pipe. This model was a long time in coming. After much experimentation, the … Continue reading Instrument Review: New Bach B-flat Trumpet Models
Regular readers will most likely need no introduction to Allen Vizzutti - an artist of the highest calibre: soloist, recording artist, composer, educator and master clinician!
Raynald Colom is one of the bright talents to emerge from the thriving Spanish jazz scene to make a splash on the International circuit. Described as “a simply superb trumpet player” by JazzWise and “a force of spirit and feeling” by DownBeat Magazine, it is easy to see why his profile is on the rise.
What difference does mouthpiece material make?