@J-Jericho said in Vuvuzela:
Interesting. I always thought these resembled the smaller of Tutankhamen's trumpets, and now we hear something similar with more contemporary music. I suppose that intonation in the first video suffers due to the tongue-in-cheek method, whereas the second is very nicely done.
I agree completely. As well, the Vuvuzela is a plastic version of animal horns such as the Shofar and African Kudu Horn.
Good news!!! When I directed the above post to my friend J.R., and asked whether he would object to his name being used, he answered, “Why not. My reputation is already trashed”. Therefore, we should all thank Jeffrey Roth of Miami for bringing the Vuvuzela to light, and invite him to become an active member of this forum!
A friend of mine, and fellow trumpet player, who is from Miami, just shared this breakthrough video with me introducing me to the Vuvuzela. I assure you that this is not X Rated, even though it sounds like it should be! It is a Bb instrument popularized in South Africa, used primarily for cheering in soccer stadiums. It also has tremendous potential for legitimate performances.
The first video is an introductory video, while the second is a complete Vuvuzela Quartet performance. I am greatly indebted my good friend, J. R.. I have used his initials only, in order to protect his privacy. If his true identity were made public, the overwhelming response would never allow him to have peace in his private life. Incidentally, there are surprisingly many boutique manufacturers of Vuvuzelas. When I searched Vuvuzela on Amazon, I stopped counting after the 71st listing.
This is copied from a post on TrumpetHerald by user kristiner:
Friends, jazz legend Bobby Bradford has lost his home in the LA wildfires. There's a GoFundMe link below if you're inclined and able to help:
Bobby Bradford is one of the most vital and iconic voices in creative music, a trumpeter, cornetist, bandleader, and composer whose career spans the better part of a century. At 90 years old, Bobby helped to innovative free jazz with Ornette Coleman, changed the landscape of West Coast music in his collaborations with John Carter, and has worked with a staggering cast of artists that spans the likes of Nels Cline, Andrew Cyrille, Johnny Dyani, Vinny Golia, David Murray, William Parker, John Stevens, and countless others.
Sadly, Bobby lost his Altadena home in the 2025 greater Los Angeles wildfires. He and his wife, Lisa, escaped with only the clothes on their backs. Bobby lost his instruments and countless other items of personal and historical significance. This emergency fundraiser fulfills the desperate need to secure this invaluable artist some sense of normalcy in the aftermath of a devastating event.
Karl is a friend of Bobby's, and this fundraiser is legit. Bobby has been a father figure to so many in the LA jazz community. I'm on the board of the California Alliance for Jazz, and we are just about to honor him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for jazz education at the CASMEC conference next week.
So many LA musicians and people in the arts community have had their lives completely turned upside down in the past few days. Please share and support if you can.
I listened to this piece a lot in college. It's fantastic in every way!
To address the original post, prices are always relative - even for new horns. In the case of a Martin Committee we have several things contributing to the current high price:
limited quantity of playable instruments
high demand based on the supposed magical properties.
Now, magic IS something that CAN happen between a player and his instrument but that is the catch. The player AND the horn need complementary magic to make this investment worthwhile.
I am convinced that any number of manufacturers could recreate the Committee for a lot less money. There is no magic in the brass or skills required to make one. The issue is, that too few people would buy it because they mostly want the myth first and the story behind having one is created later.
Wow, what a tough decision you have to make.
I had the choice between getting stuck in snow or chilling on a beach in Mexico. As you can imagine, I agonized over that decision for months.
@barliman2001 said in Christmas stand-in...:
Just got a call from a choir conductor... he needs me as second trumpet in Mozart's Piccolomini Mass on Christmas Day...
modern, well-heated church, playing in the organ loft (civvies permitted)... so all the plans of spending Christmas Day with my mother-in-law went overboard - no turkey for me!
Tough choice!
Mother-in-law
vs
Gig
@robertwerntz said in Bach AP 190 S Piccolo Trumpet:
@SSmith1226 well thats great news - sell now to avoid the old joke about not wanting our wives to sell the stuff for what we tell told we paid for the stuff LOL
This is not a joke! This is a real concern!