@kehaulani
Although I wouldn't go so far as to call Ray Anthony a musical prostitute, rather I would label him more of a musical entertainer who did a good job of keeping the big band sound alive during a period when the younger generation's taste was leaning toward hard core rock and roll.
I know he sounds like Harry James but he wasn't the only one copying Harry's style.
I own a lot of his records and enjoy listening to them often.
Through most of the 40s up to 1952 Harry played a variety of Selmer Paris balanced models ( I believe the last one given him was a 25A Gold Plated model ). But according to Chuck Par-Due's book HARRY JAMES Trumpet Icon Cathryn White, a daughter of the owner, convinced Harry to visit their plant and try their new models. This he did and switched to King in 1952. So he was likely playing the Selmer A25 Gold Plated model for the Movie, Young Man With A Horn.
Thanks for that video on Pauly. I was was really saddened when I learned of his death at age 98.
It was players like Doc Severinsen and Pauly Cohen still playing trumpet into their 90s that were my inspiration to make a comeback at the age of 79 back in 2016. Even as things are getting tougher for me at 84, due to a lot of health issues and medications, those guys kept me in there and will continue to do so.
Pauly had a fantastic sound and an amazing ability to make that horn talk. As a lead trumpeter, he was one of a kind.
I own a Custom Manchester Brass Bb made for Austin Custom Brass. I've owned it for close to 4 years. A great band horn with good intonation and fast valves. It was made in Taiwan by the same manufacturer that also made Carol Brass trumpets.
My ears aren't that good that I can tell if I am out of tune when playing with the band so I don't even think about it. The lead player in the trumpet section will sometimes point to one of us and motion for us to pull out the tuning slide a bit.
@fels
I had surgery for basel cell near the tip of my left ear. That ear looks like Spock's from Star Trek. But I guess I caught it early enough because no problems since the surgery five years ago.
Growing old isn't for sissies.
Wow, getting to see and play all those great horns of the past...Madam, you have a dream of a job.
George
Hey, Stuart, hell we can be taken to task but who cares. We are entitled to our opinion, and they theirs.
So, you are 83. You're only a baby. I'm 84...
I'm not much of an improviser. I have always played the music the way it was written, adding a touch here and there when I felt it complimented the melody. But it is always an impulse thing that I probably couldn't play the same way twice.
So my listening tastes lean that way. When someone is playing a beautiful song like What Is This Thing Called Love I want to hear the melody, and enjoy a little nuance here and there. One thing I don't want to hear is a bunch of licks that stray so far from the melody that I forgot the name of the song I was supposed to be listening to.
From what I've been reading in this thread, probably few here would agree with what I just wrote. So shoot me !
Man, she can tickle the ivory. Nice music.
That's an interesting question. I don't believe he posts at TH, though. I think I would recognize one of his posts. He's not your average member.
That is a real bummer, Kehaulani. And I thought I had problems with some nerve damage in my left arm after 3 weeks with a pinched nerve in my shoulder. Nothing compared to what you are dealing with. At least I can play.
Good to hear from you, Butch. Our band is able to practice but we have to wear masks when we're not playing and cover the bell with a nylon cloth when we play. We can only play 30 minutes, then leave the room and let it air out. Takes about 20 minutes. Then we play another 30 and call it a night.
There are 33 members in our band but only half of them are practicing once a week. Absolutely no concerts.
A real bummer.
George
Good man.
I, and some other professional level players here will answer any questions you may have.
Good luck, my friend,
George
@trumpetlearner
That certainly explains a lot. But a word of advice: a good teacher would have you learning to play well on that staff rather than above it. I play first trumpet in one of the top community bands in Nova Scotia and I have never had to play anything higher than a B ( 2 spaces ) above the staff.
One of things I get a lot of compliments on is my warm tone.
In other words, I would concentrate on developing a good playing style on the staff. Unless you intend to be a professional lead or jazz player, wearing your chops out on high notes really isn't necessary... especially at this stage of your learning.
Every morning I spend a little under an hour doing technical stuff and every day I play a 2 octave C scale . I often add D or an E to the high C just for kicks. But that's as high as I go and that will cover anything I have to play in the band. For my afternoon practice ( again, every day ) I play about a dozen or so ballads.
Good luck and be careful. Screaming above the staff can injure your chops.
Just my 2 cents, my friend.
George
It Is pretty unusual for someone new to playing the trumpet to play a G ( first space above the staff ) let alone hitting a G above high C. When I started my comeback after a 50 year break, it too me 3 months to get to a point where I could play G above the staff comfortably.
Are you sure you are playing those actual notes ? What fingerings are you using for the D, E and F above high C ? Identifying how those high notes actually sound would be amazing for a newcomer unless they have an amazing ear. I'm not saying it's impossible, but you may be mistaking exactly what those high notes actually are .
Well a trigger on the third slide really appeals to me. I always have trouble working the finger in the ring thing. I have a Selmer with a first slide trigger but hardly have the need to use it.
There was definitely a dark side to Harry James but what he did in his private life was his business as far as I was concerned. It was the music he made and how he played that horn that made him my hero and my desire to play the trumpet.
There was as book published a few years ago called Trumpet Blues. Unfortunately the book concentrated more on the sensational side of his personal life more than on his music.
Chuck Par Due righted that wrong when he wrote Harry James Trumpet Icon.
