TrentAustin

FWIW I use alcohol prep swabs (like you'd use for insulin shots) on all my mouthpieces 3-4x weekly. It helps get them clean and disinfected and when I was going through all of my "issues" it also helped ease a little of the burn after I used the swabs...

Yes, everyone must check out Benny Bailey. what a player!

wiseone2

I subbed on Quincy's band when Benny was in the section........along with Freddy and Jerry Kail. It was an unbelievable experience.
Here's Benny.............and Eric Dolphy!
YouTube - Eric Dolphy Quintet in Europe - 1961
Wilmer

Etjoeflo

When I was in High school marching band my band director made the lead trumpet players put orajel on our lips to numb them. It helped quite a bit for the game itself but the day after sucked!

TrentAustin

Joe DiMonte

Thanks for sharing O' Wise One.
Mr.Benny 'Big Brass' Bailey was a TITAN.
He was a frequent guest of Dr.Nathan Davis Jazz blow-outs held the first Saturday of every November at the University of Pittsburgh.
I think November of 2002 was the last time he performed in the 'Burgh and I'm sure the board archivist can find my post of Mr.Bailey glowing performance on that Nov 2002 date.

May he rest in peace .

Elliot84

i knew a guy who would put habanaro peper sauce on his lips, he played cruise ships all his life... like every half hour he would pour a big gob into his hand swish it around his mouth and lips then presto he was good to go. i tryed it and it was very VERY unsuccesful...

siarr

I played with a couple lead guys who used some kind of wintergreen-smelling stuff, but I'm pretty sure it was alcohol based. They were really into it, but I didn't want to complicate an alrerady complicated business!

Cheers,
Chas

dow30

Yes, rubbing alcohol is used to relieve muscle strains and as a cooling agent. We use it on racehorse’s legs all the time. Although, I know a jockey who used it to to cool himself down in the hotbox, he now has 3rd degree burns on his upper torso and had to undergo major skin graft.

Personally, I’ve worked outdoors, 365 days a year, in the wind, sun, rain, heat and below zero temperatures, and all I put my face and lips is a concoction of aloe and Vaseline. I have 3 plants growing in my window. I squeeze the aloe into the Vaseline, put it on my face and lips every morning at 4 am before I go to work. I have done this for the last 30 years, and I’m sure Wilmer will tell you, I don’t look a day over 29, and I've never had a problem with my skin or lips. Buy an aloe plant, and keep it in your window. It reduces swelling and heals the skin. You do not have to buy any fancy lip balms, or lotions, (which have extra chemicals). The plants are easy to keep, and guess what you’re paying for in all those lip balms and lotions, THE ALOE !

trumpetdiva1

Thanks for the tip, dow30! I would say you do not look a day over 28. I think it is that reverse aging process that happens once you reach a certain age.

When I was in my young teens, I was playing the first trumpet part for an amateur circus. Most nights we had two back to back shows lasting two to three hours, but the last day of circus week, we had a morning parade and three shows almost back to back. Some trumpet player in the section introduced me to spirits of camphor, as I was way too young to partake in just the spirits. It helped out some, but it may have ended up injuring my lips. I would always feel it the day afterwards. The best solution for me was to lay completely off one show that day.

Janell

Deuce

I'll go with bourbon and coke. My favorite receipe is:

100 ML Wild Turkey 101
150 ML Diet Cola

and I've never developed a problem drying lips, except playing on a blustery late fall evening out on the grid iron. But those days are long gone.

Did anyone ever use those nylon mouthpieces? I tried one out but ... could never bring myself to buy one.