Hi HD,
Yes Maurice Andre is a legend for everyone and I was very fortunate to get to meet him a few times.
My first meeting with him was when I was very very young....beginner player. He came to solo with my dad's orchestra in Switzerland and had him over for supper. I don't remember much from then other that he loves goooooood food, and that they go everywhere with their dogs. He played with my dad in 3 different occasion.
My first meeting with him as an adult was when I was studying with Eric Aubier. Andre's son Nicolas was in the same trumpet studio as me (more advanced level though). We got to go to Nicolas's house a few times for parties and ride Maurice's big tractor in the yard....lots of fun. One day he was there outside listening to trumpet CD's and we went to talk with him. He remembered me...what a surprise for me. We talked a long time about his life, when he was young, his father....well the story that he was from a very poor family and that music was the only thing he had. That we would play tunes to the mailguy every day..things like that.
Then I came back to see him a few times. Lessons were not timed like most lessons are today, he invited me early afternoon, played all afternoon, then talk, then eat, then had so much good wine that it's hard to remember.
With me he never once raised his voice or made a negative comment of any kind....(not that I was perfect
but he always tried to find somethiing good in what I had just done. Phrasing, air, and attacks were some of the subject we work a lot. He told me that he used to practice his attacks by putting both hands together like holding an orange, bringing his lips against it and do tonguing exercise, listening to the perfect pop attack.
Both him and his wife are wonderfull persons. From what I heard last june when I was in Switzerland, he did his Goodbye concerts in the past couple years. Probably still plays for him but no more concerts. Since I know him he has been dealing with a really high diabetes, unfortunatly.
In 1996 (not sure of the year anymore) at the Maurice Andre Competition, all his students and students of students (me too
played for the openning concert the Aida march (about 60 trumpet players) for him. Was great....other that a few of the big name soloist were trying to see who could play the loudest, funny contest but not really musical.
Then Maurice played a full lenght recital. Still great playing, sound attacks...had a few splia but who cares he is Maurice and will always be.
Hope this gave you some good insight
JC