The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast

Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces
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This podcast features trumpet tips, trumpet player interviews, and stories from Bob Reeves.

  1. Holiday Special! John Snell and Friends, The Other Side of the Bell Episode 148

    5D AGO

    Holiday Special! John Snell and Friends, The Other Side of the Bell Episode 148

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Makers of the finest handcrafted #trumpet, #trombone & #frenchhorn mouthpieces since 1968. Visit https://bobreeves.com to find your next mouthpiece and trumpet accessory!  This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "The Other Side of the Bell Holiday Special 2025!" Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/holiday-special-john-snell-and-friends-the-other-side-of-the-bell-148   John gets some good friends together to toast the end of one year, and the start of the next: it's our 2025 Holiday Special - perhaps the first annual? It was a lot of fun, so we might just start a new trend!   Eric Baker, Mike Zonshine, Kenny Rampton, Liesl Whitaker and the voice of Vinnie Ciesielski are here to share some highlights of the year, musical and otherwise, and things to look forward to in the new year.   Join us for a rousing conversation on such diverse topics as: Eric sharing his trick for playing a great horse neiiighhh on the trumpet, perhaps the bane of trumpet players' existence over the holidays. Mike's recent outdoor concert in Los Angeles, playing arrangements by none other than Keith Snell, John's dad. Kenny's holiday menu, centered around the Big Green Egg, might be a small reflection of a mid-life crisis? Liesl sharing some holiday family traditions in the Whitaker/Rampton household. And a great update from the voice of Vinnie - he talks about his new Christmas album, the inspiring sight of hearing kindergarteners talk about Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, and the story behind the recording itself: forced at the last minute to go from a first-class studio to recording remotely. But they pulled it off in less than 30 days, just in time for Black Friday!   There's a great shout out to Will Leathers, some fantastic trivia, everyone's favorite holiday songs to play, and some poignant and heartful wishes for the new year.   Thank you to all our viewers and listeners for a great year, it's been a pleasure to bring you more episodes of The Other Side of the Bell in 2025, and we'll keep up the production in 2026.   And don't forget to check out our partner podcasts, The Trombone Corner and The Horn Signal, including our Trombone Corner Holiday Episode, with John, co-host Noah Gladstone, and special guests Jay Friedman and Michael Dease The Trombone Corner Holiday Episode   Episode Guest Links: Eric Baker, Trumpets Mic'd Up Mike Zonshine Liesl Whitaker Kenny Rampton Vinnie Ciesieulski   Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances: Trumpet Festival of the Southeast, Jan. 17, 2026, Kennesaw State University, Georgia Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Feb. 11-14 2026, San Antonio, Texas Dylan Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    58 min
  2. Uptown Horns and the Litteral Truth: Paul Litteral Returns! Episode 147

    DEC 17

    Uptown Horns and the Litteral Truth: Paul Litteral Returns! Episode 147

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter performer and recording artist Paul Litteral, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Paul Litteral trumpet interview"   Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/paul-litteral-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-147   About Paul Litteral: Hollywood Paul Litteral began to build his career playing in Broadway hits such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, A Chorus Line and Chess. In 1978, Paul and saxophonist Arno Hecht founded the well-known group called the Uptown Horns. As their visibility increased, the band was recruited for rock and roll gigs and played many of New York's most famous clubs. Paul and the Uptown Horns went on their first rock and roll tour with the J. Geils Band in 1981 and that led to many other opportunities including engagements with The Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, Tom Waits, Joe Cocker, James Brown, Pat Benatar, and Ray Charles. The band lists recording credits on over 150 albums including James Brown's Grammy Award winning "Living in America" and tracks for Joe Cocker, Albert Collins, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Palmer, Lou Reed and REM. In addition to continuing to play music, he began writing and found critical success with Hoboken to Hollywood, which earned him the 2011 Ovation Award for Musical Direction. Paul was also awarded Best Musical Direction by Stage Scene LA for Louis & Keely: Live' at the Sahara, which had a record run, playing to sold out audiences at the Geffen Playhouse. "Hollywood" Paul earned his nickname back in the 1980's due to his prodigious knowledge of film lore. Though his extensive contributions to the LA music scene have also helped add to that fabulous moniker. Paul's fame is within the world of Rock and Roll. On his latest album, "The Litteral Truth," he brings us a collection of songs that inspired his personal musical development. The Brecker Brothers, Edgar Winter and Steely Dan are a few of the artists we cover on the record, and revisiting these great cuts and reinterpreting them was a joyous excursion for all involved. Paul is a fun and talented man, and his records are spreading the joy of knowing him. -Bill Bodine   Episode Links: Outrageous 8 Records Find the albums here: The Litteral Truth Legacy Instagram (@paullitteralmusic) YouTube channel The Other Side of the Bell Episode #92 - Paul Litteral (first appearance)   Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances: Trumpet Festival of the Southeast, Jan. 17, 2026, Kennesaw State University, Georgia Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Feb. 11-14 2026, San Antonio, Texas Dylan Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Paul Litteral Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 9m
  3. Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones: Stories from the Studio, with Jerry Hey. Ep. 146

    DEC 3

    Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones: Stories from the Studio, with Jerry Hey. Ep. 146

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring legendary trumpeter and horn arranger Jerry Hey, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Jerry Hey trumpet interview"   Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/jerry-hey-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-146   About Jerry Hey: Jerry Hey is one of the defining trumpet voices and horn arrangers in modern popular music. Born in Dixon, Illinois, into a deeply musical family, he honed his craft with Charlie Geyer and later at Indiana University under legendary pedagogue William Adam. After an early run co-founding the jazz-fusion band Seawind in Hawaii, Hey moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s and quickly became a first-call session player and arranger. From there, his sound is heard on a staggering number of iconic recordings. Hey's horn writing and trumpet playing helped shape Michael Jackson's Off the Wall and Thriller albums, and his long association with Quincy Jones produced landmark work for Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Barbra Streisand, Toto, and countless others. A six-time Grammy winner, he has been recognized repeatedly for his instrumental and vocal arrangements, as well as his contributions to major film and television scores, including Flashdance, The Color Purple, the Back to the Future trilogy, Forrest Gump, and Dreamgirls. Most recently, Hey has opened his personal archives in Notes From The Past 50 Years, a 250-page collection of pop excerpts spanning his studio career. The book gathers more than 200 of his favorite licks, along with personal stories and rare photos that trace his path from early days in Los Angeles to his most iconic sessions—including a few lesser-known musical gems. Equally at home leading a horn section, crafting a string chart, or delivering a lyrical flugelhorn solo, Hey remains a benchmark for precision, style, and imagination in the studio, with an influence that continues to shape how artists, arrangers, and producers think about horn sections today.   Episode Links: Website: www.heyhorns.com Instagram (@heyhorns) Jerry Hey playlist The Other Side of the Bell Episode #15 - William "Bill" Adam Tribute The Other Side of the Bell Episode #22 - Jerry Hey   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Jerry Hey/Megan Noller Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 7m
  4. Episode #145 Imogen Whitehead

    NOV 19

    Episode #145 Imogen Whitehead

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring classical trumpeter and soloist Imogen Whitehead, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Imogen Whitehead trumpet interview"   Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/imogen-whitehead-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-145/   About Imogen Whitehead: British trumpeter Imogen Whitehead is in demand across the UK and internationally, enjoying an increasingly diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral principal. A passionate advocate for new music, Imogen serves on the International Trumpet Guild's 'New Works' committee and has premiered numerous works by composers such as Sally Beamish and Stephen Dodgson. Many of these are featured on her recently released debut solo album, Connection. As a particular champion of the flugelhorn – an instrument often overlooked in the classical sphere – Imogen is dedicated to raising its solo profile through new commissions and arrangements. Her most recent commission, Ennui by Noah Max (for flugelhorn and piano), was supported by the Vaughan Williams Foundation and premiered in June 2025. Recent and upcoming highlights include concerto performances with Britten Sinfonia of Barry Mills' Trumpet Concerto (world premiere, July 2025) and Hummel's Trumpet Concerto (May 2025), the latter also featuring live on BBC Radio 3's In Tune. Imogen launched her solo album at London's iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields (May 2025), with further recitals at Proms at St Jude's (June 2025) and Wimbledon International Music Festival (November 2025). In addition to her position as Principal Trumpet with Britten Sinfonia, Imogen performs regularly as Guest Principal Trumpet with other leading orchestras internationally. In March 2025, she toured Germany and Belgium with Aurora Orchestra and Abel Selaocoe and next season joins the London Symphony Orchestra for a European tour. In recent years, she has performed in London's West End and played on major film soundtracks including Maestro and Saltburn. Imogen is currently Artist-in-Residence with St Martin's Voices and a member of the acclaimed wind and brass collective, Neoteric Ensemble. She is deeply committed to music education, community engagement, and equal opportunity, serving as an Associate and Mentor for GALSI (Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments), an initiative promoting gender equality in brass and percussion. She is also involved in Britten Sinfonia's pioneering outreach work, has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 'Resound' education and community programme, and regularly leads masterclasses at conservatoires across the UK. Based in South West London, Imogen also volunteers as a befriender through the Wimbledon Guild. An alumna of the Royal Academy of Music, Imogen studied with professors including Mark David and Gareth Small and subsequently studied privately with Norwegian soloist Tine Thing Helseth. In April 2025, Imogen was awarded Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).   Episode Links: imogenwhiteheadtrumpet.com Connection: Imogen's debut solo album GALSI: Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments (www.largeandshiny.com) Imogen on Instagram (@imogen_trumpet) on YouTube (@imogentrumpet) on TikTok (@imogentrumpet) 'To Stay Open' by Charlotte Harding, outdoor performance on YouTube   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Matthew Johnson Photographer Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 32m
  5. Episode #144 Pete Rodriguez

    NOV 5

    Episode #144 Pete Rodriguez

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, vocalist, composer and percussionist Pete Rodriguez, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Pete Rodriguez trumpet interview"   About Pete Rodriguez: Trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist Pete Rodríguez carries the bloodline of Nuyorican salsa as he takes his unique brand of jazz to exciting new places. Son of salsa singer Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez and godson of Fania Records bandleader Johnny Pacheco, Rodríguez cut his teeth playing with some of the greatest names in Latin music. By age 19, he was musical director of his father's band. As a vocalist, he sang on Tito Puente's Grammy-award winning Mambo Birdland. As an instrumentalist, he's appeared with legends including Celia Cruz, Chico O'Farrill, Bebo Valdez and Eddie Palmieri, including performing on the Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project's Grammy-winning release, Simpatico. As a bandleader, Rodriguez draws on his diverse upbringing—including living through the birth of Hip Hop in the Bronx and becoming an accomplished classical trumpeter during his adolescence in Puerto Rico—to create his own brand of jazz that defies categorization. The result is music that has been praised as "not only instrumentally ferocious, but texturally rich and at times profoundly intimate," with compositions "rich in musical depth, tone and beauty, as well as rhythm and melody… giving his music an appeal beyond genres." (Downbeat). His music demonstrates his aptitude for hard-driving, modern post-bop jazz, as much as melodic Latin variants and R&B-tinged grooves. Rodriguez has released a series of acclaimed albums as a leader, including Mind Trip, The Alchemist, Caminando con Papi (Destiny Records), El Conde Negro (Destiny Records), Obstacles (Sunnyside Records), and his most recent, I'm Pete Rodríguez, Vol. 1 (Sunnyside Records), named one of the Best of 2024 by the New York City Jazz Record. His forthcoming I'm Pete Rodríguez, Vol. 2 continues his exploration of identity, resilience, and innovation. "As a bandleader he's working on a clean, complex and flexible model of modern Latin jazz … his compositions change shape and character, according to the free flow of the arrangements, among art song and swing and clave. Draped over all of it is Mr. Rodriguez's powerful playing, soft-toned but battling." – The New York Times   Episode Links: peterodriguezmusic.com Pete on Instagram (@prodriguezmusic) on YouTube (@peterodriguezmusic) on Facebook (@prodriguezmusic)   Upcoming Events: Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 7 & 8 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 9 & 10 Book your alignment here!   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Pete Rodriguez Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 45m
  6. Episode #143 Dave Adewumi

    OCT 22

    Episode #143 Dave Adewumi

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer and recording artist Dave Adewumi, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Dave Adewumi trumpet interview"   About Dave Adewumi: Dave Adewumi is a trumpet player and composer recognized as one of the leading new voices in jazz. A graduate of the New England Conservatory and The Juilliard School, he went on to win 1st place at the 2019 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition, the 2024 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and Gregory Morris Composing Fellowship, and in 2025 received the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship. Adewumi has been voted a "Rising Star" in the DownBeat Critics Poll and has performed on some of the world's most celebrated stages, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.  His collaborations span a wide spectrum of artists, from Harry Connick Jr., Raye and Busta Rhymes, to Mary Halvorson, Jason Moran, Ingrid Laubrock and Dave Douglas.   Episode Links: Dave Adewumi website: daveadewumimusic.com Dave on Instagram (@str8outdawumi) Altus Band on Instagram (@altus.band) Altus Band website: altus.band   Upcoming Events: Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 7 & 8 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 9 & 10 Book your alignment here!   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Dave Adewumi Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 28m
  7. Episode #142 Chris LaBarbera

    OCT 8

    Episode #142 Chris LaBarbera

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer and instructor Chris LaBarbera, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Chris LaBarbera trumpet interview"   About Chris LaBarbera: Christopher LaBarbera began playing trumpet in middle school in 1974, and by the age of 14 was already sitting in on local jam sessions and gigs. By his early twenties he had become an in-demand freelancer, performing with artists such as Wayne Newton, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra Jr., and many others. Chris studied with the legendary Donald S. "Doc" Reinhardt, whose "Pivot System" remains one of the most influential and detailed approaches to brass playing ever developed. Building on that legacy, Chris has taught the Reinhardt system for many years, helping countless students unlock their potential by tailoring embouchure, breathing, and playing mechanics to each individual. Today, Chris is recognized not only for his wide-ranging performance career but also as a dedicated teacher and mentor, carrying forward Reinhardt's principles while making them accessible and practical for modern players.   Episode Links: Vinnie Tanno performing with the Lon Norman Sextet in 1957 (mentioned by Chris) Fabulous trumpet solo by Chris, in "St. James Infirmary"   Upcoming Events: Virtuosity Musical Instruments Boston, October 16 & 18. We will have over 300+ trumpet mouthpieces, consultations, and on site valve alignments. Book your alignment here! Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 7 & 8 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 9 & 10   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Chris LaBarbera Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 12m
  8. Episode #141 Tim Larkin

    SEP 24

    Episode #141 Tim Larkin

    This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer, composer and sound designer Tim Larkin, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Tim Larkin trumpet interview"   About Tim Larkin: Tim Larkin is a composer, trumpet player, and sound designer whose work spans decades across the gaming, jazz, and film industries. His credits include Portal, Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, and HBO's The Rat Pack, with past live performances alongside legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila E., and Huey Lewis. Tim won an Academy Award creating sound design for Best Animated Short at the 75th Academy Awards for his work on The ChubbChubbs! Setting Standards is his long-awaited debut jazz album, and was released on August 1, 2025 on all major platforms. The album is a curated collection of reimagined classics and one original composition that captures the emotional breadth, musical depth, and cinematic storytelling that have defined Larkin's career across jazz, film, and video games. Setting Standards includes interpretations of songs by Bobby Caldwell, David Foster, Jimmy Webb, and more anchored by his own original composition, "Gumshoes." "This album isn't about chasing trends," says Larkin. "It's about honoring the songs that stuck with me and reimagining them in a way that feels honest keeping the soul intact but letting them breathe in a new space." Setting Standards blends cinematic jazz, soulful arrangements, and live instrumentation into a cohesive listening experience that's both nostalgic and forward thinking. With contributions from longtime collaborators including John Paris (Earth, Wind & Fire) and renowned arrangers Maurizio Metalli, Lennie Moore and Joris Hoogsteder, the album is a modern take on the classic jazz experience.   Episode Links: Tim Larkin profile on IMDB Setting Standards streaming links Video of Tim conducting the orchestra at the Dota 2 International Championships in 2023, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle The Dota 2 2025 International Grand Championships Opening Ceremony   Upcoming Events: Virtuosity Musical Instruments Boston, October 17 & 18 Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 7 & 8 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 9 & 10   Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Tim Larkin Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

    1h 12m
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This podcast features trumpet tips, trumpet player interviews, and stories from Bob Reeves.

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