| I agree with Noel
Noel,
You mentioned a couple of my favorites, Walter and Frank.
Walter White and Craig Johnson duked it out on "Fox Hunt" in my home town with Maynard's band. Those to guys were young, but electrifying.
My favorite MF lead was Frank Green. Thanks for writing about him. One time I saw/heard him playing 2nd with MF. During "Hoochie Coochie Man" he played the first half of the solo with a plunger. When the horns came in, he flipped the plunger over his shoulder to a sax player and RIPPED into the stratosphere. Another time, after the very long "Caravan" drum solo, he came in cold and nailed the run up to F (I think). Anyway, he really is a standout player. Had the stance of a leader.
Fortunately for me, I play in a big band with a rock solid 1st trumpeter. He and I split the lead book. The guy is a human metronome. Always right on with the correct rhythm. At a trumpet-fest in 2001, he was nick-named "The Sight Reading Beast". We read a 4 part piece written for the Eastman School of Music quintet. He read it straight down. So did Bruce Lee. Of course, Bruce played it in school and did not let on until later.
Regards.
Mike |