Most of us honor the Sunday Park "airing" of Arban in developing the trumpet as an outdoor instrument; we still use his book.
Then the black New Orleans/Chicago influences - brought mainstream by Bix Beiderbeck, and opened internationally with Sachmo - Louis Armstrong. A Big Band golden age led by Sachmo and "Big Bop" Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie. Still dancing zydeco java jazz - Al Hirt.
Ralph Mendez - warmed up the Latin influences and showed that trumpeters could play continuously using circular breathing. The Cubano, Arturo Sandoval with the most beautiful sound, and Latin jazz.
Maurice Andre reached up into the C and G ranges, and the piccolo and classical trumpet. Maurice also gets credit for bringing out the "charm" of the instrument -- smooth, easy-listening, supple phrasing.
Tijuana Brass sound of Herb Alpert. His 1965 Album, "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" sold more than 14 million copies, and by 1966 he was bigger than the Beatles. From dancing to nervous breakdown and later, serious consciousness raising, always improvising off interesting melodies and rhythm structures.
Doc Severinson made it nightly with Johnny Carson's Tonite Show. One of the first of the great Monsters, and showing the power of space-age pop.
Jack "trying to get good" Sheldon broadened the play as Merv Griffin's superior sideman -- not only as a jazzman, but with a 17-piece orchestra, as a balladeer, goldening the age of Los Angeles Hollywood.
Miles Davis influenced Chet Baker, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Herb Pomeroy, Alan Dawson, Dave Lambert, Charlie Mingus. Eventually the incredible "screamers" (Ferguson) were surpassed with jazz fusion and smooth jazz.
Hugh Masekela - In the 60's introduced the 8-quarter runs echoed in traditional drum-song, and became a global music legend (with his sweet former wife vocalist). In 2000's he is still show-casing with the Chissa All-stars.
Chuck Mangione - opened up the range between elevator background and fluegel horn concert arrangements.
Finally, a kind of apotheosis: Wynton Marsalis - the first musician to win Grammy's in both Classical and Jazz performance. Top improvizations. Maybe the greatest combination of ear, talent, heart and intelligence.
Now, a new generation is stepping up. The English-woman, Alison Balsom is performing in 2008 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Walt Disney Concert Hall, not only from her Andre-influenced easy-listening honey-coated effortless high notes, but also with avant-garde jazz. Debut on Prairie Home/Keillor January 2008, showing how a gold trumpet can deliver "folk" melodies.
WADADA LEO SMITH. Leading brass instrumentalist composer and teacher. Working free jazz and world music for decades.
FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC. Trumpeter Dave Douglas has sponsored "FONT" for now its Sixth Year in New York City. Strong performances and compositions with Taylor Ho Bynum and Jeremy Pelt, Eddie Allen, Ralph Alessi, Mark Isham, Pheeroan ak-Leef, John Zorn. www.fontmusic.org.
CHRIS BOTTI. Album "Chris Botti in Boston" {Boston Pops}. With Josh [Berman? tenor], Sting (both had the nerve to start over on improvs that do not go right, and audience appreciated/remembers "Shape of my Heart" - squared, harmon mute), John Mayer, etc.
GREG ADAMS - works with mesmerizing vocalist Daryl Walker, composer, producer, player. Mix of jazz, pop, San Francisco funk since the 1970's, and just played Laguna Festival of Arts on 2010 tour. Soulful touches.
Another contemporary trumpet star from New Orleans is TERENCE BLANCHARD. In the 1980s he succeeded Wynton Marsalis in Art Blakey's ensemble, the Jazz Messengers. Now he is doing some interesting solo work and film scores. A lot of his compositions are tracks in Spike Lee films -- Jungle Fever, Malcolm X. I heard him touring in support of his recording "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)". He seems to be exploring the alternate fingerings, perhaps intending to get different pitches. I'm starting to count on him to do some of the sounds on the outer ranges of the Trumpet - tiger hums, pedal-growling, pain and sorrow. Is it just me, or is the victory peal a bit hollow and hard to play just now?
ReplyDeleteCONTEMPORARY TRUMPETERS. By miracle we are still hearing live concerts by really talented performers of "Jazz", as performed by Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Although developed in the 40's, the sound is still contemporary. The local practitioners to hear:
ReplyDeleteRON STOUT - strong lead in both Cool and Hot Jazz styles, often with Pinter (sax), Hamilton (bassist), Gibbs (drums) and Urtreger (piano).
JACK SHELDON - Davis-inspired improvisations, but more even-tempered.
BOBBY BRADFORD - often paired with sax player Vinny Golia, and more free-jazz improvisational forms as developed in the 50's.
ADD TO CURRENT NEW ORLEANS PERFORMERS. I'm in shock and could not be more pleased. Just read that LIONEL FERBOS celebrated his 97th year -- at the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. In 1930's people danced. Now they just sit and listen in the French Quarter clubs. Creole singin' and melodic jazz playin'.
ReplyDeleteCHRIS BOTTI. Here's a very very smooth sweet tone. Plays mostly jazz with a uniquely caressing style. July 2008, at the Green Valley Resort Spa.
ReplyDeleteGREG ADAMS performed 2008 Festival of Arts, Jazz Concert Series, Laguna Beach. Although I was intermittently distracted by some serious wine-tasting, the performance was moving and cool. The composer played some great trumpet.
ReplyDeleteDANIEL ROSENBOOM - with the Balkan septet, Plotz. Daniel is a gifted composer -- 2011 "Fallen Angels" . Graduate of Calif Institute of the Arts. Can range from swing and craft to abstract jazz and dark heavy metal. A lot of expression.
ReplyDelete