Calling a Trumpet Players and/or Lovers

[jmg1911]

Two questions:
First, who do you nominate as the best virtuoso trumpeter (and if you wish, why).

And second: Who do you end up listening to most (and why).

As for me, I nominate Rolf Smedvig of the Empire Brass for the all time virtuoso position for tone, velocity, range, dynamics and interpretatio. I could write 500 words on each. His Carnival of Venice is astounding, and his Virgen de la Macarena cuts Mendez. Still, my childhood idol, Rafael Mendez is comfortably in second place, but after that it is pretty much academic to my mind.

I listen to both a good deal, but Bix and Al Hirt get more air time. I'm a sucker for Dixie.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Maurice Andre- classical/solo

Allen Vizzutti - jazz

Aldolf "Bud" Berseth - orchestral

These are my number one in their respected genres.

I tend to hear Bud the most on recordings due to my career choice....classically trained trombonist.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I'd have to say Freddie Hubbard, but then, I have never heard of most of the guys you mention, so obviously this game is way over my head. Who do I listen to? It's between Freddie and Miles.

 

[blujax01]

Bill Chase. After playing first chair for Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman he struck out on his own.
Recommend his 1971 album "Chase". They could have won a "Best New Artist" Grammy except for some obscure chick named Carly Simon.
"Open Up Wide" Chase-LIVE (original 1st album band) - YouTube

I played in high school jazz band in 70-73 and Chase as well as Chicago, Blood/Sweat/and Tears, Lighthouse and other "crossover" bands gave us jazz geeks some rock style charts to play. After all, you can only stand so many renditions of "Satin Doll"

 

[Prodigal Son]

I'd have to say Freddie Hubbard, but then, I have never heard of most of the guys you mention, so obviously this game is way over my head. Who do I listen to? It's between Freddie and Miles.

Don't feel like its over you head...if you like what you hear....it must be good.

"If it sounds good, it is good." Louis Armstrong

 

[nosreme]

1. Guttler and Smelvig (a tie)
2. The "J.S. Bach" trumpet in the big choral sections

 

[rock doc]

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.

I played trumpet from the 4th grade thru the 11th grade and then switched to the Souza phone in the 12th. I was in the marching band, orchestra, and pep band. This was in the 1960's, early 1970’s. I don’t recall too many professionals except for Herb Alpert & Louis Armstrong & I just wasn’t into jazz.I liked Chicago (the group, not the city).

Who can ever forget the Lonely Bull?

 

[zonker5]

Hard to name the best, I do listen to Chet Baker a lot.

 

[jmg1911]

OP's reply

+1 on Freddie Hubbard! Maybe not a virtuoso (neither was Bix) - jut great jazz.

To nosreme: Gotta try Herr Guttler. Anyone in the same class with Smedvig has my attention. Any suggestions re where to start? I have a soft spot for the pic and natural horns, too. I seem to remember a couple of scandinavians who did some goo natural horn work. any ideas?

I had to sell my horns (all seven of them) almost 20 years ago when my teeth gave out. It took a while to get over that. I kind of lost touch for a while. No historic loss. I had my moments, but I was always better in the practice room than in front of a mike

 

[jag312]

Louis Armstrong

 

[calmex]

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.

I played trumpet from the 4th grade thru the 11th grade and then switched to the Souza phone in the 12th. I was in the marching band, orchestra, and pep band. This was in the 1960's, early 1970’s. I don’t recall too many professionals except for Herb Alpert & Louis Armstrong & I just wasn’t into jazz.I liked Chicago (the group, not the city).

Who can ever forget the Lonely Bull?

I played the trumpet 4th grade through 12th. I did the school concert band thing, and the stage band thing. I was solo trumpeter for about 2 years in the stage band -- although I think that was a mistake. When I was "on", I was "on", and when I was "off", I sank the whole ship by myself. But they kept me there, standing alone on the left side of the trumpet section, ready to embarrass or impress depending mainly on luck. I never learned chords, darnit. We play a lot of Count Basie stuff, and 50's - type jazz.

We went to a Stage Band reunion down in Minot. I was about 15 at the time. Doc Serverinson was there, and everyone got to meet him and talk to him. Everyone except me. I ducked out because I saw the big Gunstore over by the Piggly Wiggly and just HAD to go have a look. I blew my whole afternoon in there. For a small-town Manitoba boy, the gunstore was a real eye-opener for me.

When I got back, everyone from the Music teacher of our stage band to my friends (and enemies) in the band itself started ragging on me for having missed getting to meet Severinson. I mean, they talked about him like he was God. Some of them still had wood burns on their knees.

"Oh, come on," I blurted out. "It's not like it was Herb Alpert."

In that instant I gave myself away and was branded as a lunatic by the rest of the devoted until I traded my trumpet for my first 1911 and started shooting IPSC and the rest -- as they say -- is history. As I recall, Chase and Severinson were the big favourites amongst my fellow trumpeters. I liked Herb Alpert, and always have. As I sit here in the office of my Ice Cream Store enjoying the nice warmth of a Mexican fall evening, we have a disk of the "Best of Herb Alpert and the TJB" playing on the music box. And it was playing before I read this thread.

Can't beat that.