Hello again. It seems like too long since I checked in here. We've been very busy, as usual. We have had a pretty steady stream of visitors coming from around the globe. This is so much fun for us here at Harrelson Trumpets. Some of my recent favorites were from Australia. But they come from all over the world. These past few weeks we've been following through on a long time goal of creating a fun and interactive trumpet community on youtube through weekly Trumpet Challenges. If you haven't seen any of the videos coming in you should really check them out. This is a link to the current challenge: www.whyharrelson.com/weekly-trumpet-challenge Jason's been having a lot of fun with the videos. I was impressed with how well this one came together.

I wanted to remind everyone that we'll be having a week long  Showroom Event here March 26th - 31st. Stay tuned for more information... but we are going to host a lot of fun events including clinics on the 5MM Mouthpiece, machining demos, a sidewalk sale on trim and mouthpieces and hopefully even a fun BBQ. March isn't far away... so if you're thinking of attending please let us know if you need recommendations on lodging etc. 

There is always a steady flow of beautiful horns marching out the door here... but this one is my most recent favorite:

We've been re-branding our youtube channel and it's starting to really take shape. We are now doing regular mouthpiece and trumpet reviews. Those, along with the weekly Trumpet Challenge can all be found on our youtube channel. We have over 400 videos... so if you want to binge watch trumpet related videos... we've got the channel for you!

​www.youtube.com/channel/UC73UmUfNcl5y1sqZHWCW_UA?view_as=subscriber
​

Last, but definitely not least... I wanted to share a story that came in a couple of days ago from one of our clients... it made me laugh... so I thought it might brighten your day too:

"I am one of the performers at the Feast of Fantasy at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Our show starts with the Court Revelers (vocal group) welcoming our patrons in front of Bad Manor. Towards the end of their song, the brass quartet (2 trumpets, 2 trombones) appear on the balcony about 15 feet above them. I usually empty my spit valve, giving the illusion that I am dumping water on them . At one of our last shows in September, I had my 5mm mouthpiece in my Schilke trumpet (the Summit One is not going out there anytime soon). It was a chilly morning, but the sun was out and things were starting to warm up. I shook my trumpet with the water key open as I have been doing for at least the last 5 seasons. Suddenly, my 5mm fell out of my trumpet and landed with a thud on the deck below me. A couple of the Revelers turned to see what had happened. I was pointing down at my mouthpiece, which I was sure must have landed on the rim. One of the Revelers picked up the mouthpiece and tossed it up to me, but his toss was a little short and my 5mm again fell to the deck. 

Another Reveler picked up my mouthpiece and tossed it up. I got my hands on it this time, but because it was cold, it slipped through my fingers and again fell down to the deck.The patrons were laughing. I guess they thought this was part of the show. Since the show must go on, the other three brass players started the opening fanfare without me. A Reveler picked up my mouthpiece and tossed it up again. This time it landed at my feet. Whew! As I bent over to pick it up, it rolled off the balcony and into a flower pot that was hanging from the balcony. Nooooooooooooo! Several Revelers grabbed the flower pot and started digging through it like dogs looking for a buried bone as they were trying to find my mouthpiece. They found it and handed it up to me just in time for me to play the last 3 notes of the fanfare. 

We have a few minutes between the opening fanfare and the next time we need to play. I looked at the mouthpiece and to my surprise, it looked like it was ok - no dents, not gouges, no scratches! I couldn't believe it! It wasn't until the next day that I found a tiny scratch on the body of the mouthpiece. The rim and the shank were fine. After that, the mouthpiece stays in my pocket while I empty the water key at the start of the show.

Not only does the 5mm play great, it took a beating like a tank and came through virtually unscathed. 

Thanks again for making such awesome mouthpieces and trumpets! 

Best regards, 
Doug Bradley" ​

How is it the middle of July already???

​It's been quite a while since I've done regular blog entries... I would really like to make more time for that again... and I have been doing regular News Updates on the website as well. If you haven't been keeping up with the buzz at Harrelson Trumpets... the last year plus has been quite a ride. We've opened a new Showroom here in Denver. We were lucky enough to snag a space just a couple of doors down from the trumpet shop. Jason and I have been focused (when not designing and building horns) on moving the contents of the office in Minneapolis here to Denver. A journey that has taken over a year. We're consolidating... and organizing. This seems to be a never ending process. Just yesterday we pulled about 6 more boxes out of the trailer that are now slowly being assimilated into the office. (I finally found the box with the laminating sheets in it... after buying two other rounds of laminating sheets)

Yesterday we spent at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute. Jason gave a short clinic on the Physics of Brass Playing. Today Joe is there taking care of the booth. It was a chance to finally show off our new mouthpiece and trim displays. We're utilizing the new Laser Cutter and having a lot of fun with how quickly (relatively) we can produce high quality results and prototype in minutes. 

On the off chance you haven't heard about it yet... we're hosting a full weekend of open houses, shop tours and in house clinics NEXT WEEKEND! To find out more information and to register for your spot click here: ​http://www.whyharrelson.com/clinics--tours.html

Looking forward... I will soon be heading back to New Orleans to attend the Satchmo Summerfest. We are sponsoring the festival again this year. We're taking a year off from making a custom Satchmo Trumpet and instead sponsoring Kermit Ruffin's set for the festival. We're changing the way we donate and advertise the custom Satchmo Trumpet and we'll have more information on that in the coming months. In the mean time... look forward to an action packed weekend of photos and updates from me during the festival. I do my best to meet with as many of our clients as possible... and not only attend the festival, but their evening gigs as well. 

If you're in New Orleans and would like to meet up with me... please send me an email to [email protected] ... or just call us at the shop 303-657-2747
I will be tracking down some of our old friend and clients in town including Kermit Ruffins, Leory Jones and Shamarr Allen... just to name a few! Really looking forward to making new friends and reconnecting with a few of the older ones. 

And! Last but not least... our surprise visitors today.

I learned a new term recently... MOUTHPIECE SAFARI... it made me laugh. 
Some of our clients were using it to descibe that ever elusive and thrilling hunt... for the ultimate prize... mouthpiece! What makes it even more interesting to me... is that we've been on our own Mouthpiece Safari of sorts here at Harrelson Trumpets for a few years now. Only we've been hunting in a different fashion. 

We have been working to reverse engineer the most versatile and adaptable mouthpiece available in the world! We hope that instead of hunting for a mouthpiece anymore... you can simply design the perfect mouthpiece for you.  A Mouthpiece that allows you to easily and quickly change the way it plays... all on your own. A mouthpiece that gives you the freedom to switch from jazz to lead and back again in a matter of seconds. A mouthpiece that can easily combine the characteristics of two or more of your favorite set-ups to make the perfect combination. It's been a long and technical process... but we're finally there. If you play on a mouthpiece that we don't have measurements for already... we can scan it for you and offer you a 5MM in your size or your size with variations. Jason has been working to not only create this whole system... he has done a pretty awesome job of writing it all out to explain all the different pieces of the system. There is a wealth of information here: http://www.whyharrelson.com/5mm-mouthpieces.html

I realize... first hand... that all of these sizes and numbers and combinations can be not only overwhelming... but can be confusing and intimidating. I have good news! You don't have to know ANY OF IT! All you have to know is what you play on now and what you'd like to accomplish with your 5MM Mouthpiece set up. Joe and Christine and Jason (when he has the time) are all happy to help you choose your mouthpiece options and are quite good at selecting the pieces based simply on your descriptions... and you wouldn't need to choose any sizes on your own... unless you want to. The thing is... once you get your original set up... you will have the numbered parts in hand and you could then easily select other sizes in either direction. Anyway... I think that it can be kind of confusing for people that don't have a mouthpiece already. There's no reason to be intimidated by the process or the numbers... because we can do all of that work for you. 303-657-2747

You can use this link to order a mouthpiece and you don't need to pick any specific numbers... you can just call us after you place your order and we'll get you what you need. 

This will get you a simple kit ... which includes one full 5MM Mouthpiece set up in any size you like. You can email us your size requirements or you can just give us a call and we'll figure it out for you. You can order just those pieces... or if you like you can order extra throats or cups etc. Please don't hesitate to call or email with any questions. We've been on this hunt for a few years. 
​

For the past few months big changes have been happening at Harrelson Trumpets and for me personally. We've temporarily closed the New Brighton office because we are focusing our attention on creating a show room and retail location here in Denver. The goal is to make Harrelson Trumpets a destination for clients and trumpet enthusiasts around the world. Denver is an excellent central location in the USA... with plenty of recreation and natural beauty to offer year round. So, planning a trip here to try out horns can easily tie into your ski trip or your backpacking adventure. We've had a huge increase in visitors to the shop in the past few months and I think this is a major factor. This last year I have been splitting my time between Minneapolis and Denver.... while in Minneapolis I have been maintaining the offices there and as of late working to wrap things up. My time in Denver has been focused on helping to streamline production and get the new showroom  and retail space up and running. We are hosting a GRAND OPENING here on October 16th. We encourage everyone to come to this fun event. We will have more details coming soon... but you can expect shop tours... demonstrations... and lots of fellow trumpet enthusiasts. We currently have the largest stock of Harrelson Trumpets on hand in company history... and we're excited that visitors now have the opportunity to try a wide variety of our instruments just by walking in the door. At this time we are taking visitors by appointment only... but after the Grand Opening... we will have regular hours posted for our retail space.

From now until our Grand Opening... we are offering a FREE (6 piece) 5MM Mouthpiece Kit and a free ProTec Case on ANY of the Harrelson Trumpets we have in stock here: http://www.harrelsontrumpets.com/category_s/24.htm

We of course, would encourage you to come to the Grand Opening to pick up your trumpet in person... but if you'd prefer we're also offering FREE SHIPPING on all of these as well. We ship EXPRESS so it's next day.

In other news... the 5MM is in full production and we're constantly filling orders. This system is becoming more all encompassing everyday... and we're having a lot of fun working with clients to tweak their set up one piece at a time.

I have really been enjoying this opportunity to learn a new city while helping to usher our company to a new level. Jason and I have known many moments of success... each time we reach a new plateau we look around and think... wow... can you believe we've made it this far... look at the view. I am really enjoying this one. We are very excited about the new Showroom and Retail Space. We look forward to hosting visitors from all over the world and making new friends in music. We look forward to the future... because we feel there is so much more to do. Thank you to all of our clients and friends for your support and excitement... we love what we do.

I guess it's been quite a while since I wrote my last blog post. Jason reminded me of it last week and like always I said something like... "just as soon as I finish everything else"... which never happens. So, sometimes you just have to press pause.

We've been so fortunate to be incredibly busy this year. Every time we hit a new level, Jason and I take a moment to reflect on where we've been. The road has NEVER been easy... but it sure has been fun and interesting. I wouldn't trade this epic rollercoaster ride for anything. It really is true that entrepreneurs work ridiculous hours and have the craziest experiences... but when you're doing something you love it really doesn't matter... in fact it's a blast.

I was just reminded of this again. I spent the weekend up along the North Shore with a few friends. For my birthday this year I asked a group of them to come with me to the North House Folk School... where we crafted our own traditional snowshoes. The instructor has been a woodworker all of his life and the classes he teaches are all over the board... including boat building! It was obvious he takes great pride and care in what he does.

As we went around the room talking about what we did and why we were there... I was proud of what I had to say. Never have I told someone what I do and had them look at me and say... oh, that' sounds nice. Usually I am met with a wide eyed ...WOW!!! And dozens of follow up questions. That never gets old. Anyway... spending 3 intense days bending wood frames, chiseling out joints, planing, sawing, riveting and lacing... oh my the lacing... that takes forever. I thought a lot about what it means to build something of quality... with your own hands. Once you do this... you will never take it for granted.

I am Jason's number one fan. I have been for so many years. Back when he was just honing his craft and learning to love it. There was a lot of hard work and hard times that served as lessons. Jason loves the trumpet. He loves building them. He loves how they work. He loves playing them. He likes thinking about how to make them better. It is all he talks about. I talk to him several times each day. Many times for over an hour or more discussing the business and our plans... but mostly... about what he's excited about... what the next step is... and how he can't wait to get to that next level. There is always a next level in his mind. I think many times he is frustrated that he can't skip the next 5 levels and go all the way to the edge of what he wants. I have never met a man so excited about what he does... or so meticulous about the process. He takes great pride in each and every part of the instruments he builds. I have watched him do this for years. I could cry just thinking about it. I wish that everyone knew him the way I do... and could know how many mornings he is in the shop at 5am... and how many nights and weekends he is there until 11. How many machines have broken. How many fires were started. How many years he worked in an unheated garage. How many times we have both just almost been in tears over the next challenge that seemed to come at the worst time. And how many times we've literally screamed with excitement about the rewards. Harrelson Trumpets really is a family run American arts and crafts business that is run by people that love the instrument, love music and love their work. I feel like I went off on a huge tangent... when I started this entry I really didn't know what I was going to write... but I guess my weekend in the North just renewed my pride well made things. At a time when you can get almost anything in less than 24 hours... it's nice that there are some things still worth waiting for.

Meet Pocket Watch! A groovy group of 8 ladies who throw down some of the most righteous funk beats I have ever heard.  The band consists of:

Haylee Donnelson - Vocals
Jessica Anderson - Drums
Emily Olson - Electric Bass
Emma Pederson - Electric Guitar
Toni Lindgren - Electric Guitar
Lucia Sarmiento Roccatagliata - Tenor Sax
Christine Palmer - Trumpet

I've been hearing a lot about these ladies lately... as this is Christine's latest musical project and we share the same office. The mystery has been building for a few months and finally I had the chance to see them play ~ last night. Pocket Watch filled the corner stage at the upstairs bar of Moto-I in Uptown. They have talent in spades and, well, they have fun! It's contagious. By the end of the night there were people dancing in every space not covered with a couch or a table. Tonight, they'll be playing a bigger venue with full instrumentation. Come dance with these ladies tonight at The Nomad... they'll be on around 10:30. I'll see you there! 


Thursday, September 18th
Pocket Watch @ Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave , Minneapolis
10:30pm 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1506339209610566/




I asked Christine to give me the inside scoop: 

How long have you been playing together? 
Pocket Watch is brand spankin new.  I think Jess started to ferment the idea for the band around May of this year, and began to get a group of women together to raise some roofs in the Twin Cities.  The group was pretty much set by July, we found we had a solid groove, and we hit the ground running.  Many of the band members are current students at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, rounded out by some raw talent from the Twin Cities music scene.

What's the story behind the band name?
Although I wasn't there from the very start, I know a lot of names were thrown around.  Naming a band can be an arduous process, but Pocket Watch just stuck.  It's catchy, endearing, and we do have a great pocket as a band.  :)

You've already been on TV?
Our first gig was a live spot on WCCO (CBS Minnesota)!  We were advertising an outdoor women-in-music festival in St. Louis Park where the band would perform later in the day.  It was a ton of fun and great exposure for us, but morning news means a sound check before most humans should be awake...

What's next?
Tonight we're playing a set at the Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis - 9pm doors, see you there!  We also just recorded our first studio video last week, so be on the lookout for that to be released soon!  This is a great recent funk tune that we modified a bit to make our own.  We're also hard at work on originals and developing our own unique voice as a band.  Lots of fun stuff in store, so stay tuned.  :)

Describe your sound.
Our sound is still in its early stages of development, but inspiration abounds in funk, jazz, and R&B. Groups like Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk are definite influences... hard deep grooves, tight mobile horns, and vocals that shift from sultry and mesmerizing to unbridled powerhouse.  No matter what, you will want to move your feet!

Find out more: 
http://instagram.com/pocketwatchband
https://www.facebook.com/WatchingThePocket

While I was in Spain back in June, I took a weekend to visit clients in Madrid. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. When I first arrived in Madrid, I will admit I was feeling pretty lost and a little scared. Compared to Barcelona, the city seemed HUGE and confusing. I don't speak a lick of Spanish (crazy I know) and it seemed nothing was in English... I'd been spoiled on the touristy streets of Catalonia. But it didn't take long for me to realize that Madrid was a very friendly place.

Joseph Siankope met me at my hotel and drove me down to the city center. It was a tough day for parking, because it was the last day the King was in power. So there were guards everywhere and some streets were closed off... but he stayed positive and smiling despite the traffic. Then he took me on a walking tour of the city. We saw the palace and the Almudena Cathedral. We stopped for wine with views of the beautiful buildings. Then we went for lunch. (in Spain that's at like 4pm). I met his sons and his wife. And then he said... there are some people I want you to meet... he took me in to the restaurant and I was greeted by a crowd of his happy friends. I received cheeky kisses from all of them and then we went outside to eat. His wife was so sweet and really wanted me to have an authentic meal. So she guided me through the menu one item at a time telling me what each thing was and what the most traditional dishes were. Joseph selected an amazing wine. I forgot to ask him what it was but it was the best wine I had the entire trip... and that's saying a lot. The food came out in waves... and there was way too much of it. But it didn't matter because we invited his friends to help us polish it off. We had a lovely time sitting and talking and laughing... I had just a very short amount of time before the gig and wanted to go back to the hotel first... so they all walked me to the taxi... instructing the driver to be extra nice to me and then all of them hugging me goodbye. It was the most welcome and happy I felt since my arrival in Spain.
I was worried when I arrived at the Espacio Ronda because I couldn't figure out where it was. After walking around for what felt like a very long time (but was probably only like 5 minutes) I found it and parked myself in the front row. Joseph introduced me to the band and they were all wonderfully friendly sweet guys. I wasn't sure what to expect. There was a small crowd and the Espacio Ronda has the feel of something more like a theater... Joseph told me that's not their normal venue but it happened to be the gig that was going on while I was there.

It only took half of one song... before I realized what a magical experience I was in for. Joseph introduced me from the stage and everyone welcomed me with applause... Throughout the evening he frequently would turn to just me and explain things in English... it made me feel very honored and taken care of. The music was unbelievable. I have seen countless New Orleans Jazz performances. I have been to Preservation Hall 4 times. Every August I take a trip back to New Orleans and spend the entire weekend... from the moment I wake up, until the moment I go to sleep... listening to Jazz. And, I thought Joseph's performance was one of the most moving things I have seen in my life. I wasn't the only person that felt this way... the room erupted in dancing. Much of the time we were singing along or clapping along. Joseph and his band turned what had felt like a cold and empty room... into an all ages dance party sing along. I have always felt like there is no genre of music I don't like. I always say, that for me, if you can really put your heart into what you're doing... then what you make will be beautiful. Joseph pours his heart out through his trumpet and his singing. There wasn't a single moment I was there that I didn't think he was giving it 200%... it was amazing.

After the show, Joepsh and Olga drove me across town to catch another client gig at Plaza Jazz... they both got out of the car to hug me goodbye. Sometimes you meet people and even though you spend just a few hours with them... you know that somehow you could be lifelong friends. I will forever remember the music and the kindness they shared with me.

Joseph has lived an interesting and diverse life. He speaks several languages. He truly cares about his music, his family, his friends and the world he lives in. And you can see that come through in everything he does. I did a short interview with him about his life and his music below... included are the photos and videos from the concert I attended at Espacio Ronda.

How did you decide to play the trumpet and when did you start?
When I was little I first played  drums , double bass, vocals , tap dance  and a bit of trumpet.  I just swapped from instrument to instrument till I got to New Orleans – 1980. After blowing on Mr Satchmo´s horn in New Orleans, I discovered my true vocation in New Orleans Jazz.

Where are you from?
I was born in Zimbabwe in the deep  rural  area – countryside, without electricity , nor running water . I walked to school bare feet a  10 km distance everyday plus another 10 to get home. I was fit!!!

When did you fall in love with the music of New Orleans?
I fell in love with the music of  New Orleans when I was about 11 .  I learned to play this music in order to pay my education when I left the rural area for the town life. I listened to the LP recordings  of  Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Kid Ory, Freddie Keppard, Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Sister papa Joe, Blind Willie Johnson etc.

Tell me about your time in New Orleans.
In 1980 I went to New Orleans for the first . I was in the Neptune Jazz band of Zimbabwe.   I had never seen another New Orleans Jazz band before. I had known this music only from the recordings and there I was with real musicians.  The audience appreciated our music.  We were awarded Honorary citizens   of the city of New Orleans. I met  the owner of the Preservation hall , Allan Jaffe who gave me a cornet for my birthday as he liked my sound. He asked me to take up the trumpet seriously and  preserve the good old music of New Orleans.  I was handed the original trumpet of Louis Armstrong so I could blow on it. Boy,  that was  the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me as a musician. It was like my Jazz Baptism. Wooow!!!

How did you come to live in Spain?
I came to Spain on tour, liked it more than many countries I had visited before.  Some years later I was back to Madrid for my studies. I met my future wife Olga. We got married and had  two kids Joseph jr. and Alvaro. Spain is a wonderful country to live in.

Is music your full time job?
Music is not my full time job. I am into counseling. School  counseling  ,  workshops on diversity in education through music, workshops on African music and its culture.

Can you tell me about your music program.
Most of my gigs are Private events , jazz festivals , weddings , some jazz clubs and the  before mentioned workshops .

Do you also teach?
What I have mostly taught is music and movement or Musik Garten, African music, through dances , percussion , songs  and lately some trumpet too.

What's the music scene like in Madrid?
You don´t find much New Orleans Jazz or Traditional jazz in Madrid. Jazz organizers and jazz critics are mostly interested sometimes over blinded  by sophisticated modern jazz which they sometimes even don´t understand.

How often do you perform?
More or  less once a week.

What's the name of your group.
Joseph Siankope and his New Orleans Jazz Band

Do you have any recordings and where can we find them?

-          The Ambassador plays New Orleans greats (Joseph Siankope and his New Orleans Jazz Band)

-          Música e Interculturalidad ( Joseph Siankope - Editorial Catarata)

-          Zimbabwe – Mestizaje de Ritmos Étnicos

You can find most of this stuff on Amazon

Do you have a favorite music memory?
I remember playing at New Orleans Jazz Festival – opening day, with more than a hundred musicians  in the Mississippi  river. The musicians were from  all over the world and from the very the city of New Orleans. It was just awesome.

Where can people see you play (do you have a gig schedule online)?
I usually play in Madrid and most of my gig schedule is on my facebook.

How often do you go back to Africa and can you tell me about your projects there.
I haven´t been there for about four years now. I am working on a project  to improve education and development in the rural areas through our NGO – ZIMESKO ( Zimbabwe España Kobani)  Our dream would be to build a school at Magoli so that kids stop walking more than 10 km to school everyday with all the dangers they have to run into during these distances , thus danger of animals and men for the young girls. Some schools need repairing, school material , sponsorship,  computers , books , pencils & pens, electricity ,potable water, housing for the teachers and a never ending list of needs….. We hope to accomplish our project in the near future. We sometimes raise funds through concerts and workshops  and that is very slow.

Describe your "dream gig"... if you could perform anything... anywhere... with anyone what would that look like?
It would be so nice to return to New Orleans with my brothers  and play that good jazz we used to play together with its unique sound . Play again in the preservation hall and the Mississippi river boats. Our last concert there was in 1984.  So my brothers are back in Zimbabwe and still swinging but lesser than before. These guys play wonderful New Orleans Jazz.   

I've heard from other guys in Spain that there's not much trumpet music in Spain... what's it like being a New Orleans style trumpet player in Madrid?
I love the style I play. People enjoy my music  but New Orleans jazz has got a big audience in Spain, so we will keep on working on it. My aim is to bring new Orleans music to so many people somehow people here in Madrid  consider me a New Orleans Jazzman and someone who represents New Orleans Jazz in Spain.

Any new projects on the horizon musically speaking?
Maybe some recording in short.

If your trumpet were an animal what would it be?
My trumpet would be a Cheetah. In fact it is my family totem, My surnames are Siankope Ngwenya and Ngwenya means Cheetah on land or crocodile in the water in our local languages in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.   

I spent the month of June in Spain. Originally my trip was planned to turn off work and turn on my art. You see when I am not at Harrelson Trumpets, I do photography and paint. I have art shows all around the country and quite a few right here in Minneapolis... but... I have had a very busy year here at work. Not leaving much time to concentrate on my art. So, I planned a month long sabbatical and packed a suitcase full of art supplies. After the arrangements were made I decided that I really couldn't stay away from what I love so much about my job here in the US for that long... and so side trips were planned for Madrid and Castellon. On those jaunts around the countryside of Spain... I found that I loved my job even more than I realized. The people I met with... their stories and their hospitality, truly were the highlight of my experience. Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some of that with you... and hopefully you will see what I mean, when I say, the people that play our instruments are really what this is all about. They are truly amazing human beings. 

So, the first client I met with was Jorge Vistel. I am sure he thought I was a little nutty because when he met me (at my hotel, thanks Jorge) I had literally just arrived in Madrid after my high speed (330 km/hr) train from Barcelona. I booked my hotel because it was named after the train station... so... I assumed it would next to the train station. It wasn't. I walked a long time before dipping into one hotel and handing them my passport. The woman told me there was no reservation but I might want to try the other hotel nearby with the same name. Whew. So... eventually I found it. Finding my room in the hotel proved to be (surprisingly) equally confusing. So I was a little flustered by the time I met up with him.  

Jorge met me and I was surprised at how young and cool he seemed. Smiling ear to ear with giant headphones around his neck. He took me to a Cuban restaurant and helped me choose my food. By night I guess they host Cuban music as well. I sorta wished it was night so I could see what he meant. After he walked me around town a bit and we stopped for ice cream. He explained the concept behind his new album and even let me preview a couple of the tracks. Then he told me I was the only person that had heard it yet... feel free to be jealous. It was clear to see, after only a couple of hours, that Jorge takes his music seriously and I had yet to hear him live. I excused myself early because I had a big day ahead in the morning and he reminded me of his show the following night at Bogui Jazz with the Cristina Mora & Ander García Duet.

I immediately liked the space at Bogui. It reminded me of what would happen if the old Dakota Jazz Club and the 7th Street Entry here in Minneapolis had a baby. Intimate, not too classy, not too snobby... just all about the music. I was literally one foot from the stage. Cristina's voice was hypnotic and Jorge seemed to dance around the lyric lines as if the two of them were singing duets. It was an awesome show.

The following day I met with another client (more about that later) and then went to catch Jorge at El Plaza Jazz (also in Madrid). That place was really cozy and intimate too. I liked the way the guy made gin tonics by taking the ice in one hand and then smashing it with the back of the spoon with the other. I sat on a couch about mid-way back and when Jorge caught my eye he told me to come sit by the musicians waiting to cue up on stage. That was the first time I saw them... the pack of Cuban allstars that I would later find them out to be. Among them was also a guy that studied at Berklee and spoke perfect English (a comfort), we even knew some of the same folks in Boston,  and a hand full of other characters. This was a jam session to beat all jam sessions. I have literally never seen anything like it. I was, to say the least, impressed. That went on for I think 3 or 4 hours... pretty much non stop. I learned later that one of the players was Jorge's brother Maikel, a sax player, also from Cuba. I had a hard time figuring out who was who after a while... they were all about the same height and they all had dreadlocked hair. I think I asked more than once which guy was his brother. Just when I thought there couldn't be any more music to be had... Jorge turned to me and said, ok, now we go to the really fun jam session. (that was at 1am) I said something like... "I really don't think I can make it" he said... "You sleep in Barcelona, now you are in Madrid"... so we walked (me, and the Cubans) across town to Sala Barco. Jorge was right... this WAS the fun jam session. 

This was a danceable chill locale and I remember all types of instruments. I think at one point there was a clarinet... and a guy doing skat from stage wearing a Hawaiian shirt. After he got off stage I turned to him and said... wow that was fantastic (in English of course) and he said... thanks, did you understand any of what I was saying... NO, I admitted. He laughed. That jam lasted  until about 3 am I believe. I asked how often they do this... Jorge said they do it all the time. They go anywhere they can jam... it's what they like to do. Someone was teasing him saying that if he could he would go to every jam session. The next day Jorge rounded out my time in Madrid by taking me out for amazing Italian food! and walking me to the train station. He stayed with me all the way until I checked in, I think he could tell I was totally lost. Overall my time with Jorge was really inspiring. He told me about life back in Cuba and coming from a long line of trumpet players. He said it was a little strange in Spain... no one plays the trumpet, but in Cuba EVERYONE does. He said he used to hate the trumpet. His father would make him practice all of the time and all he wanted to do was go play. I guess you could say things have changed a little. I think Jorge Vistel eats, sleeps and breathes music. He was very excited to share his new recordings and videos with me. He really cares about getting it right. About touching the audience. I had a wonderful time with him and I can't wait for the release of his new album at the end of this year. Thanks again Jorge for sharing your time with me and showing me what it means to love music in Madrid.

Below is a short interview with more information. If you'd like to contact Jorge directly you can do so here: [email protected]

How did you come to play the trumpet? 
In my family there´s a lot of trumpet players, including my father, so I grew up listening to it and loving the sound. 

When did you start? 
When i was 6 years old, at home, with my father.

How long have you been in Spain? 
Nine years.

What's the difference between the music scene in Cuba and the music scene in Madrid? 
In Cuba the music is very important, they promote a lot the art in general. Here in Spain, there´s not a long tradition of jazz. It really didn't start until the 70's here.  

Tell me about the group of you that came to Madrid from Cuba... how did that happen? 
We came during a tour, in 2005, and stayed in Italy. After a while in Italy we came to Spain.

What kind of music do you play? 
I play Jazz but also i play a lot of styles. The important thing isn´t the style, is the quality of the music.

Do you have any recordings? 
Yes, i have one edited called Evolution with my brother, Maikel, in our project: Vistel Brothers. Also I have two records almost ready: Van Hasselt & Vistel Project (with fresh sound records). And my trio project called Cimarrón with Inner Circle Music, the Greg Osby label in New York.

What is the inspiration behind your latest recording? 
The Yoruba religion, the roots of the Afrocuban culture. 

When does it come out and where can people find it? 
It comes at the end of this year,and you can listen to it on spotify, iTunes, amazon, etc. In the web site of Inner Circle: http://www.innercirclemusic.net

How often do you play gigs? 
it depends, but normally two times a week.

What's an average week like for you gig-wise? 
I practice everyday, and study the music I'm gonna play. 

Where can people see you play? 
A lot of places in Madrid, and around Europe when I'm on tour. 

Have you toured with any big names? 
Yes, i toured with Quincy Jones, David Murray, Doug Hammond, Peruchin Jr., Oscar Valdés, Henry Cole; and reulary I tour with Alfredo Rodriguez band.

What's your idea of the perfect gig? 
A perfect gig for me is when i can touch the emotions of the public with my music and get a feedback with them. But always there's things to improve, nothing is perfect.

Any tours coming up? 
Alfredo Rodriguez in Spain and Norway in July, and later with Ralph Peterson in Spain.