Gear Review · Interview

Jon Faddis on Ullvén Mutes

...from Jon Faddis: "Hello, Fellow Brass Players, I would like to tell you about some really good news, not just for me, but for trumpet and trombone players all over the world.Swedish trumpeter Lasse Lindgren has acquired the rights to make Ullven mutes, which have been unavailable for many years, and also happen to be… Continue reading Jon Faddis on Ullvén Mutes

Gear Review

Clary Woodmutes : Mute Review

Further to my interview with Tom Clary, the master craftsman behind 'Clary Woodmutes' [read it here if you haven't already!], Tom has kindly sent me a beautiful Kramer Adjustable Cup model to try out. Crafted from gorgeous Sapele and Cherry woods, this model is named after Don Kramer, one of Tom's former teachers. The above… Continue reading Clary Woodmutes : Mute Review

Advice · Gear Review · Interview

Trumpet Artist Profile : Lasse Lindgren

Lasse Lindgren is a multi-faceted musician, with a reputation as a great 'lead' trumpet player as well as a great 'jazz' player. In recent times, he is also responsible for the resurrection of the great Ullvén Mute brand, made famous by players such as Dizzy Gillespie and Maynard Ferguson. Lasse kindly talks to me here… Continue reading Trumpet Artist Profile : Lasse Lindgren

Gear Review · Interview

Design Innovations : Tom Clary

In May 2018 in San Antonio (TX) I had the great pleasure of meeting Tom Clary at the annual ITG conference. Tom is the founder / designer / master craftsman behind Clary Woodmutes, and was there to display his range of beautifully-crafted wooden trumpet mutes. Two years on, Clary Woodmutes continue to go from strength to strength with a broad range of exquisite looking (and sounding!) mutes - I was delighted to sit down and spend some time with him (socially-distanced over Zoom of course) to chat about this great progress:

Gear Review

Vhizzper : Mute Review

So, here is a really interesting new product that I have been sent through for review… The Vhizzper mute is the brainchild of Christoph Baerwind, trumpeter in ‘German Brass’ and ‘Der Orchester der Hamburgischen Staatsoper’. The essential concept is a practice mute that can also be used as a mouthpiece mute. This is not something that I have encountered before so was fascinated to give it a try.