Hi Manny -
I've always been curious as to why the C trumpet has almost never been used in jazz. Any thoughts?

Dear Spirit,

Had you been in Vienna with the Minnesota Orchestra when we were on tour you would have heard one used!

After the first night we were there, I returned to the hotel after hearing Vienna Phil play Strauss and Bruckner. There was a jazz trio playing in the lounge; a pianist, bass/synth. drumset guy, and singer. The associate conductor and I sat and listened to them do tunes and afterward I brought them a round of drinks to tell them how much we were enjoying them. When they learned I was wth the orchestra they asked If I'd get my horn and sit it with them. All the sheets they had were for piano so I grabbed my C and jammed with them for the next three nights during the 12 to 1 set, the final of the evening.

Truthfully, I don't know why more jazz trumpeters don't use a C. It might just be tradition or when you feel a tune in a certain that's just where you want it to be. I can say that once I pulled out my horn I never looked back. They were three nights that I'll never forget. We played everything. The other orchestra members in the lounge got a kick out of it, especially when I picked up an ashtray and used it as a plunger!

I'll find some photos and try to scan them in as evidence of my story.

ML

I wish there was a tape of those evenings! I'll bet you didn't feel disadvantaged in any way using the C. My guess would be that tradition is the reason for the Bb in jazz, more than anything else. Very few of the jazz trumpet greats would ever have played in a orchestral trumpet setting, and the C doesn't seem to be used much outside of that context, other than in "legit" chamber music. I read somewhere that Miles tried a C for a while, but I have no idea if he recorded with it.

Manny,

Along the lines of jazz, I want to hear what you have to say about playing in a jazz band and playing real "jazz" when that person wants to play in orchestra someday. Is it necessaary to need to know how to solo and play jazzy stuff or not?

Jeremy

jeremy,

No, it's not necessary at all. It just enhances your enjoyment of the job if you play with an orchestra that has a pops season as we do. Doc loves coming here because he knows that he'll always get the right stylings from this brass section when we have a big band piece to play.

I've played big band material for him as well as funk, mariachi, dixeland, and rock to name a few styles. He is happy not to have to waste time teaching us the style.

When it came to serious improvising Chuck had the most knowledge. My strength is lead playing with light improv skills, enough to get by. The rest of the guys fit in whatever style we have to play. It's all about the listening skills a player has. I don't care whether it's a Bruckner symphony or Trumpet Blues and Cantabile, it's all about listening and imitating to fit in.

ML

As far as "straight" legit playing versus jazz, I've often wondered how someone could be raised in the USA and progress through the music world over here up to professional level without ever having picked up some jazz/dance band experience? It seems it would be a lot easier to become a pro without ever having any symphony experience.

Okay... so how do I put a photo in here?

ML

Manny, do you have a place to host the picture? If you do, just click on the IMG button up top, and type in the location, then press IMG again. If you dont know what the heck I'm talking about, you could send the picture to me and I'd be happy to host it for you.