The player is only 1/2 of the equation

It's all about the sounds we create, right? We wouldn't pick up the trumpet day after day, year after year, if we didn't enjoy creating a series of beautiful, expressive, meaningful sounds. And our audience would prefer to listen to us communicate in an artful way. Making music is all about sound.

If this is true, why do we so often overlook 50% of the sound-making equation? The mouthpiece and trumpet make up one half of the formula that holds the promise of amazing sound. The irony is that most people who think they are good at something give themselves too much credit. And this is often what holds them back from their full potential. In fact, the 50/50 debate is so heated that over 90% of the trumpet players I have polled believe that the player makes up of 90% of the sound equation. I've heard the words, "it's the player, not the horn" thousands of times.

The very first high efficiency stainless steel tuning slide ever made

How then do you explain the thousands of high profile trumpet players who have worked intimately with trumpet makers to create something that fits their individual needs? Wouldn't these efforts be in vane if the player is 100% responsible for creating the sounds that immediately identify them, like a personal signature? Do they seek out custom trumpets and mouthpieces just to have their name engraved on their equipment?

Having personally worked with hundreds of the most prolific and well known trumpet players alive today, I can safely say that pro players seek out new equipment because they recognize that they are only 50% of the sound equation. These are incredibly talented, hard working musicians dedicated to their craft, yet they would choose a custom trumpet and mouthpiece over something off the shelf.

Leroy Jones is one of those people you never forget after hearing him just once. He performs with his band weekly at Preservation Hall in New Orleans. This man squeezes every last drop of traditional New Orleans Jazz out of his horn in a way that transforms space and time. He takes you back to the early 1920's with every note. And he sounds amazing even on the cheapest trumpets. Yet he sought out custom solutions to fit his very specific individual needs to further his musical expressions. And, like all trumpet players, he wanted increased endurance, comfort, efficiency, projection, and the list goes on. If you've never heard Leroy, I highly recommend you jump on a plane and go hear him live. If that isn't possible, at least check out his albums here. 

I rarely drop names as I believe every single person pursuing musical expression on a brass instrument deserves my unbiased attention, care, and time. With that said, I will drop a few names today, to offer some perspective and hopefully open your ears up to a few more great musicians that may inspire you.

Charlton Singleton is one of the premiere trumpet players of our time. His expression on trumpet is only equaled by his captivating voice. Charlton is a founding member of Ranky Tanky, a band that will gracefully transport you into the Gullah culture of the Southeastern Sea Islands. You need to own his latest album Crossroads to truly understand what it means to communicate with your sound, both vocally and on a brass tube!

Pete Rodriguez, another premiere Latin Jazz trumpet player of our time, is the son of the Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez who was literally one of the greatest Salsa Band leaders of all time. Like his father, Pete takes his Latin roots and music very seriously! His album Obstacles showcases Pete's talents rich in tonal expression, thought provoking complexity, and sheer virtuosity. Pete visits my shop yearly to discuss his musical goals, fine tune his mouthpiece setup, and further explore the latest innovations within the Muse Modular system.

Jorge Vistel is perhaps the most prolific Jazz trumpet player in Europe today. I think of him as the Wynton of our time. Like Pete, Jorge is 100% devoted to his craft which leans heavily on complex phrasing, technical fireworks, and pure beautiful music. My dream is to someday host a concert featuring these two trumpet superstars in Denver. Jorge and his brother Maikel make up half of the Vistel Brothers Quartet currently based in Paris. Jorge will be taking delivery of the very first VPS Summit G4 made from laser sintered metal and solid hardwood late this year.

Dichrolam Fire captive inlaid finger buttons

Now that I've been sharing some of our clients, I wish I had time to continue with my very long list of trumpet players who will instantly inspire you to take your playing to the next level. However, I need to go build another Muse Modular trumpet for a client and change over the tooling on a lathe. I promise to share more soon.

Jason