Veldkamp

When I started out with lead playing one of the things I did was transcribing the lead part of a particular chart I liked. Then I started to play along with the record and tried to swing as hard as the leadplayer did.

I really can recommend playing along with Al Porcino (Terry Gibbs Dream Band) or Snooky Young, Conrad Gozzo, etc.

Playing this lead charts also helps with developing lead chops (endurance).

I learned most leadplaying skills by playing 2nd trumpet next to a great leadplayer and try to blend as good as it gets. But when that's not possible, playing along with records is 2nd best.

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www.erikveldkamp.com
http://trumpetkings.blogspot.com

Pete

How about Bobby Shew? He is a great teacher and player.He lives in Albuquerque now. I know that he is on the road a lot, but how much closer can you get? If youy want to learn more about lead and commercial playing he is the man!

Bobby is also prompt in returning emails. Although I have not studied with Bobby privately, I have had numerous conversations with him over the years. There are a couple of guys that I know that studied with him and they are both wonderful all around players.

And recordings that you could listen to would be "Swingin' New Big Band"- Buddy Rich, "Tales of a Cortesan" -Toshiko Akyoshi/Lew Tabackin Orchestra, "One in a Milliom" - Groovin' High Big Band, and one of my favorites: "Heavyweights" - Bobby Shew and Carl Fontana in a small group setting doing their jazz thing!

I was introduced to Bobby's playing on a small group jazz recording long ago. I didn't know that he was a lead player.I just liked the way that he played jazz!

His studio playing was all over the TV scene in the 70's. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Mork and Mindy, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Pete

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Pete Grimaldi

Solar Bell

Boy, this is an OLD thread....Nov 2004.

Anyway, listen to CDs by the Count Basie Orchestra with Mike Williams on lead. Swing Shift and Live at El Morrocco are good ones.

Also do a Google search for and article in the New Yorker magazine on Bernie Glow, maybe the best commercial lead player of them all.


-cw-

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Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

Al Innella

I have been playing lead for such a long time with so many different bands including Jimmy Dorsey band led by Lee Castle Melba Liston`s big band with Slide Hampton Virgil Jones Benny Powel etc. I`ve been doing this with many local bands since 1975 ,.

rowuk

Lts not forget Erik Veldkamp. He is a monster lead player that also has some extremely valuable posts here and more info at his website:

Welcome to the website of Erik Veldkamp

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

eisprl

I would say that a good player can teach you many things if you just listen.

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Eric Sproul
Practice is like filling a leaky bucket

Bb: Yamaha Xeno 8335
C: Bach Stadivarious 239L and 25A leadpipe (Owned by Eric Sholtz)
Flugel: Yamaha Bobby Shew 6310Z
Mouthpieces: GR tech
www.stadband.ca

MJ

TK Tony Kadleck

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