The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces

This episode of "The Other Side of The Bell" is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Please enjoy this conversation with John and world-renowned trumpeter, Chris Botti. Chris was featured back in  Episode #24, and now again in Episode #113 with the release of his first album in over 10 years.  A video version of this episode is also available on YouTube.
About Chris Botti

Trumpeter Chris Botti s renowned for his versatility in both jazz and pop music. His mother, a pianist and teacher, was his first musical influence. Botti began playing trumpet at nine and fully committed to it at 12 after hearing Miles Davis. His early achievements include performing at Carnegie Hall with the McDonald's All American High School Jazz band. During his formative years, Botti was significantly influenced by his time at Indiana University, where he studied under renowned jazz educators David Baker and William Adam. This period was crucial in shaping his musical style and approach.

Botti's career took off with short touring stints with Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich, and his relationship with Paul Simon in the 1990s further expanded his musical collaborations. Additionally, Botti's association with Sting, particularly touring as a featured soloist in Sting's "Brand New Day" tour, played a pivotal role in his career. This collaboration not only broadened his musical exposure but also significantly influenced the trajectory of his career, marking a key phase in his development as a musician​​.His solo debut album, "First Wish," was released in 1995, marking the start of a successful solo career. Botti's work often bridges jazz and pop, demonstrated in albums like "A Thousand Kisses Deep" and "When I Fall in Love." His album "Impressions" won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Pop Instrumental Album, a category for which he had received several nominations.

Chris Botti's current projects showcase his enduring creativity and versatility as a musician, including his Blue Note Records debut, "Vol. 1," released on October 20th. This album marks a fresh start for Botti, emphasizing a return to the jazz essence of his artistry. "Vol. 1" features beautiful new ballad renditions of standards, including “Old Folks,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” and “Blue In Green.” This project signifies Botti crossing back to acoustic jazz and classic standards after achieving crossover success in both jazz and pop arenas​​​​​​​​.

In addition to his new album, Botti is embarking on an innovative venture, "Botti at Sea." This luxury cruise, personally curated by Botti, promises an exceptional experience of ensemble entertainment and showmanship. Scheduled to sail from February 8 to 15, 2024, the cruise departs from Miami with stops in Aruba and Curaçao. "Botti at Sea" is set to offer a unique blend of music and luxury, further highlighting Botti's flair for combining artistic pursuits with novel experiences​​​​​​.

Jump Ahead
[0:04:16] Changes since the last podcast, focusing on Botti's decision to record a new album despite previous reservations.
[0:06:22] Botti talks about his switch to Blue Note Records and working with David Foster
[0:08:00] Details on the production and concept of the "Vol. One" album. [0:09:37] Conversation about the recording process of the album.
[0:12:32] Botti's approach to choosing the song "Fix You" for the album. [0:14:24] Discussion on the dynamics of recording in a studio with live musicians.
[0:17:22] Plans for future volumes following "Volume One."
[0:20:14] Botti's live shows and the contrast between studio and live performances.
[0:21:39] Chris Botti's routine and practice habits while touring.
[0:24:07] Botti discusses his musical approach and practice techniques. [0:26:53] Insights into Botti's process of learning and transcribing solos. [0:29:37] Botti talks about current musicians he admires and learns from. [0:31:04] Botti's stage presence and pre

Welcome to Episode #112 of "The Other Side of the Bell", a podcast brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. In this episode, John talks with Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell about their recently released album called "Homage" by the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble.  We hope you'll enjoy their conversation as well as the album.
Join us at Dillon Music, November 9-11 for valve alignments and mouthpiece consultations. Email sales@dillonmusic to schedule an appointment!
About the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble Album "Homage" 
The recording scene in Los Angeles has a long history of great and highly versatile trumpet playing. For the most part, though, these trumpet players rarely get a chance to be featured. In 1957, Tutti Camarata arranged and produced a record called Tutti's Trumpets that featured some of the top session trumpet players in Los Angeles at that time. That was over 60 years ago. Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell started talking about doing another recording that would feature some of the current session trumpet players here in Los Angeles. Wayne suggested recording a trumpet ensemble CD to Jeff and they loved the idea and thought a choir of trumpets would work well. With that, the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble came into being.
In choosing the music Jeff arranged for this CD, he wanted to pay tribute to some of the film composers who are part of the Los Angeles recording scene (and who write so well for the trumpet), and also pay tribute to some of the great trumpet players of the past and present. 
Jerry Hey graciously wrote the arrangment for the last track, the iconic Al Jarreau tune "Roof Garden".
Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble Members
Jeff Bunnell Wayne Bergeron Jon Lewis Dan Fornero Marissa Benedict Dan Rosenboom Rob Schaer Larry Hall Dan Savant About Wayne Bergeron
Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles but worldwide.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1958, Bergeron came to California at age one. He originally started on French horn but switched to trumpet in seventh grade where he found a natural upper register ability. Bergeron credits his junior high and high school teachers, Ron Savitt and Bob Smith, for molding his talent into practical working skills.
Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1986. Bergeron can be heard on Maynard’s recordings of Body and Soul, Big Bop Nouveau, Brass Attitude, and The One and Only Maynard Ferguson.  Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, “Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I’ve had on my band.”
As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of recording credits reads like a “who’s who” in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Indina Menzel, Leslie Oden Jr., Herb Alpert, The Jonas Brothers, Burt Bacharach, The Dirty Loops, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Michael Bolton, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussy Cat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mars Volta, Chicago, Rosemary Cloony, Diane Schuur, Barry Manilow, Lee Ann Womack, Lou Rawls, Eric Marienthal, Kenny G., and David Benoit.
Bergeron has worked on over 500 TV & motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits includes Red Notice, Turning Red, Soul, Bob’s Burgers, Ford vs. Ferrari, Toy Story 4, Frozen 1 & 2, The Lion King (2019), The Secret Life of Pets, Wreck it Ralph 2, Crazy Rich Asians, Sing 1&2, Moana, Frozen 1 & 2, Get On Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, High School Musical 3, Get Smart, Superman Returns, The Simpson’s Movie, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Mission Impossible 3, Ice Age 2, Spiderman 1 & 2, Team America

This podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Join us at Dillon Music, November 9-11 for valve alignments and mouthpiece consultations. Email sales@dillonmusic to schedule an appointment!

David Washburn is a Yamaha Performing Artist and serves as Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A much sought-after musician in Los Angeles, he also holds the position of Associate Principal Trumpet of the LA Opera Orchestra. He has served as principal trumpet and soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Active in the recording studio, David has numerous motion picture soundtracks to his credit. He has played principal trumpet for Incredibles 2, Coco, A Quiet Place, Spider-Man Homecoming, War for the Planet of the Apes, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Independence Day – Resurgence, Godzilla, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Karate Kid, Avatar, The Legend of Zorro, Troy, A Beautiful Mind, Windtalkers, The Perfect Storm, Titanic and Deep Impact. He has also been part of the John Williams trumpet section for over 20 years and has performed on the soundtracks of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
David is a member of the faculty at Biola University and Azusa Pacific University. He has held teaching positions at the University of California Irvine, Chapman University, California State University Northridge, California State University Long Beach, University of Redlands, Idyllwild Arts Academy and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
David received his Master of Music, with distinction, from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and his Bachelor of Music from the Thornton Music School at the University of Southern California. His trumpet instructors have included Rob Roy McGregor, Robert Nagel, John Clyman and Joan LaRue.
David has been a featured soloist with many different orchestras, including the Los Angeles, St. Louis, Knox-Galesburg, Hong Kong and California Philharmonics; the Los Angeles, San Diego and South Bay Chamber Orchestras; the Berkeley, Burbank and Glendale Symphonies; and the New York String, University of California Irvine and Pasadena Pops Orchestras. He has also been featured with the New York Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center, as well as at the Santa Fe, La Jolla and Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festivals.
In 2018, David performed the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 as well as the Telemann, Albinoni and Haydn Trumpet Concertos with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.
In the summer, David performs at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Orcas Island, WA; Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, CA; Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival in Menlo Park, CA; and the SummerFest Chamber Music Festival in San Diego. David was also part of the inaugural Chamber Music Festival at the Green Music Center in Sonoma, CA performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in 2015.
Listen to this episode online: https://bobreeves.com/blog/david-washburn-trumpet-interview/

Mike Price is a professional trumpet player, formerly living in Tokyo, Japan. He composes and performs with the Mike Price Jazz Quintet or Orchestra. Originally from Chicago Illinois, he was a student of Vincent Cichowicz (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) while getting a degree from Northwestern University. Following 3 more years studying jazz composition at Berklee School of Music , he toured with the Stan Kenton Orchestra followed by touring with Buddy Rich. Mike played 1st trumpet for both bands. (1967- 1970)
Back in Los Angeles in 1972 Mike was an original member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, touring Japan many times before moving to Tokyo in 1989 for an NEA/U.S.- Japan Friendship Commission Artist exchange program grant. After conclusion of the grant period, he joined the Sharps & Flats Orchestra led by Nobuo Hara, staying with this band until the leader’s retirement. During this time, Mike formed a jazz quintet in 1993 and a big band in 1999, both becoming active participants in the Tokyo jazz scene. The big band had its first concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth with a rare performance of the “Such Sweet Thunder Suite,” alternatively known as the “Shakespearian Suite.” The orchestra’s activities continued with new projects such as the Miles Davis/Gil Evans “Miles Ahead,” “Porgy & Bess Suite,” “Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” “Tribute to Buddy Rich,” Ellington’s “Far East Suite,” “ A Tribute to Gerald Wilson,” with whom Mike worked in Los Angeles before going to Japan.
During the early 2000’s, Mike was introduced to Detroit jazz singer, Harvey Thompson, with whom a collaboration began. Many performances followed with Harvey being featured with both Mike’s quintet and big band.




In 2011 Mike recorded a CD with his Tokyo Quintet with all original compositions. “Presenting the Mike Price Jazz Quintet In Tokyo.”
Twenty five years after arriving in Japan, after Hara san’s retirement, Mike has returned to home ground in Los Angeles forming the American version of his quintet and orchestra with some of LA’s top jazz musicians.
Throughout his performing career, Mike has a parallel commitment to teaching. Before going to Japan, he graduated with a Master’s Degree from University of Southern California with the help of a teaching assistantship in Jazz Studies. Shortly afterwards he received a California Community College Instructor Credential. There have been many private students in addition to band clinics and performances for high schools, universities, and community bands oth before and while living in Japan. Notable in this was an 18 year contract with Hamamatsu Public Schools to teach elementary, middle school, and high school students brass instrument instruction and fundamentals of jazz ensemble performance. Also, there was a 9 year contract to teach beginning trumpet classes at the elementary level and private lessons through high school to students at St. Maur International School in Yokohama, Japan.
 
Links:
 
Sign Up for a Valve Alignment or Mouthpiece Consultation with John in Boston at Virtuosity Musical Instruments New Gard Bags in stock at trumpetmouthpiece.com

William Bing has recently retired as Director of Bands and Artist in Residence at the California Institute of Technology. During that time, he conducted over 250 concerts with the Caltech Jazz and Concert Band.    He also served on the undergraduate admissions committee and was named an outstanding teacher by the students from Caltech   Bill and his wife Delores have won many teaching awards including the Associated Students of Caltech Teaching Award, Pasadena Youth Music Council Teacher of the Year, and most recently Honorary Membership in the Caltech Alumni Association.  For ten years he was a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and for five years he was a performer with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He has published two method books for trumpet.   Students that have studied with Bill have played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Reel Big Fish, Poncho Sanchez, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and many other classical, rock, and jazz ensembles. His clinics and concerts  have received rave reviews by other band directors from junior high school through the college level.  For his clinic, Bill emphasizes sound, and from there, balance, intonation, and style.  
 
Links
Bill Bing Website Bill Bing YouTube Channel Sign Up for an Appointment with John in Boston at Virtuosity Music Gard Bags at trumpetmouthpiece.com

Chris O’Hara is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, a chamber musician, and educator.  His playing is described as “virtuosic and impressive in every way” (Chicago Music Examiner), and “a treat beyond measure” (Arlington Advocate), and the International Trumpet Guild Journal hails him as a “true master of [the] instrument.” Already in his young career, Chris has performed over 3,000 featured artist events covering 48 states and 12 countries across North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Asia.  His performance schedule has taken him to notable venues such as the Italian Brass Week, Ravinia Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Norfolk Music Festival, the Festival de Camara de Musica in Aquacalientes Mexico, the Nagoya Conservatory of Music, the Newport Music Festival and Millennium Hall in Japan. Chris currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University and Concordia University.
Chris is a clinician for Conn-Selmer Company and Denis Wick and has presented countless master classes and clinics at public schools and the world’s finest colleges and universities.  He can be heard on recordings on the Paraclete and AAR labels.  His latest  releases, johann sebastian BACH with organist Mark Engelhardt, On Tour, Vol. 1 with the Alliance Brass, and the award-winning Now, O Now with the Illumine Trio can be found on the Rowjack label.  His performances have also been broadcast on NPR, NBC, WGN, the Hallmark Channel, and more. Chris serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University. 
 
You can find Chris on his Instagram and TikTok, as well as his music on Art of Sound Music.