Earlier this year Jason and I took a trip to Detroit to put on a series of lectures. Gary Greenfelder welcomed us into his home and his town to us with open arms. Jason and other Harrelson Trumpets clients were asked to be guest soloists with Gary's big band... It was an overwhelming success and we had so much fun. Gary (and the trumpet players he knows in the Detroit area) have an enthusiasm for their instrument that is contagious. I don't think I had one conversation that weekend that didn't have something to do with music or trumpet... but that's why I am in this business... here's what Gary had to say about his latest projects. Thanks again Gary for hosting us and showing us around town.


How long have you been playing the trumpet?
I started playing trumpet in the fourth grade and fell in love almost immediately!  I started studying privately in the fifth grade and was one of the lucky grade school students to be brought in to other local schools that need additional support at concerts!  This was great fun and especially when we were excused from daily classes to play at school day concerts.  Ahhhh... the good ol’ days!

What made you decide to go into music / how did you start out?
Actually I had no intention of going into music until the summer that I graduated from high school.  I was enrolled for electrical engineering and decide to jump ship mid-summer to music performance.  Mid semester my third year of school I had the opportunity to go on the road with a show band travelling the east coast of the USA.  I did that for 1 -1/2 years and then decided to move to Los Angeles to be a free-lance studio player.  I moved to LA in 1979 and the music industry was just starting to slow down for horn players.  After 3 years, I decided to go back to school for accounting and keep music as my passion.  In 1983, I moved back to the Detroit area and went back to school to become a CPA.  A few year later I got involved with a big band that is now The Gary Greenfelder Orchestra!  Never planned to be a band leader, but it has changed my life… for the better!

If you weren't a trumpet player... which instrument would you play and why?
Huh.... I can't imagine playing anything but trumpet!  I guess it may be piano, which I still hope to learn someday... I need to make time for this!  Piano is truly an orchestra within itself!

Who are some of your musical influences and why?
Well, I must say that I'm rather mainstream...... like many trumpet players, I fell in love with Maynard Ferguson, not just for his high notes, but for his unique sound, energy and ability to keep moving forward in an ever changing world.  Plus he was such a great mentor to so many players!  Next would be Freddie Hubbard... the coolest trumpet player around in my books!  Of course there are many others too...... Harry James, Bobby Shew, Winton Marsalis, Uan Rasey, Arturo Sandoval, Chuck Mangione, Maurice Andre, Alison Balsom, Tine Thing, etc.....  All of these players influence how I approach playing the many styles of music that I perform.

Is music your full time job? Do you want it to be?
Music has not been my full time job... I just couldn't take the risk financially.  During my time in LA, I realized one thing, I love playing music too much to put the strain of a career on top of that.  Now, I have 4 groups that I lead, GGO (Gary Greenfelder Orchestra), GQ Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Quintet, 2 horns), GQ Music Ensemble (3 horn - different music from quintet), and DRBQ (Dynamic Resonance Brass Quintet).  All of these groups perform live gigs and help to satisfy all of my musical tastes!  While I do not see music as a financially rewarding career, I am lucky enough to not have to worry about that anymore.  So, I can take my groups on the never ending journey of continuous improvement, with the goal of play as many live gigs as we can find.  What fun this is for me!

Do you write a lot of music?
I have never written music.  There is so much music out there that I love to play that I never took the time to develop this skill.  Someday I may!

What type of performing are you doing right now?
My Big Band performs twice a month at CLUB 54, for a few years now.  This gig has been great fun and helps to improve the music we play!  We also play Weddings, Corporate Events, and Concerts and are working to start doing clinics at local schools to encourage the younger generation to keep this music going.

What's the music "scene' like in Detroit?
The music scene in Detroit has always been good, let me define this!  There are so many great musicians in this area, it’s hard to believe there aren't more musical opportunities for these great musicians.  That being said, there are quite a few live music venues throughout this area.  The problem is the pay for most of these is not very good, especially the Bars and Lounges...  However, I have seen an increase is opportunities for Wedding and Corporate events in the past 6 months or so.  I am hopeful that I can get all of my groups working regularly!

What's genres/types of music are being performed live most often in the area?
There are many types of music:  Rock, Oldies, R&B, Jazz, some Big Band, new music.  Frankly, I spend most of my time developing my group and don't get out much to see all that is going on here.  I know there are lots of group playing regularly around town.

Tell me about the GGO.
Gary Greenfelder Orchestra (formerly One Beat Back) was the first big band I got involved with after finishing college and starting my CPA career.  It started in 1991 with 3 partners.  When I joined the group one left and they asked me to be a partner.  Eventually the other two original partners both left and I started running the band myself.  After some hard thought, I decided to change the name of the band to GGO.  It made sense because many client couldn't remember the name of the band and did not associate the band with me.  Plus by this time I had moved from lead trumpet to fronting the band.  I never thought or even considered being a band leader.... but it has been a great ride and I hope it goes on for many years to come!  We have great fun playing together and I keep adding new music to our library.... I just finished putting together out 5th book of music!  Each book has about 220 to 250 charts, so we have lots of music and we just keep learning more. www.ggmusicentertainment.com/

If you could share the stage with anyone... who would it be?
Wow.... never thought of that!  With the big band at CLUB 54, I have had the honor of playing with many great musicians from this area.... and the list just keeps growing!  So that said, I think Walter White would be at the top of that list!  Not because I'm that good, but because we are sending a great message..... big band music is awesome!!  We have already talked a bit, so I am hoping this will happen sometime soon!!   We just keep growing our audience at CLUB 54 and that tells the story for us!


What else is in the works for you in the coming year?
Well, I am not trying to conquer the world, so for me, it will be creating a new website, adding new video and audio music and giving the site a completely new look.  The goal is simple..... more Wedding and Corporate Events!  Other than that, it will be business as usual.... keeping our music better than it was last week!!

What's your current gig schedule like? Where can we see you play?
The only group I currently have playing regularly is GGO at CLUB 54.  Actually this 3 hour gig twice a month with guest artists and vocalists takes considerable time, as we are always adding new music to this venue.  My second goal for this year is to get the new GQ Music Ensemble up and running.  With this group, I am working to have a good mix of Jazz, Standards and R&B to create a group with a wider musical appeal.  We may take this group to CLUB 54 for a twice a month event soon.

Musical highlight of your career so far?
Wish I had something with which to impress all of you!! lol  The highlight of my musical career is leading 4 groups and finding a path to allow other musicians (and myself) to satisfy their dreams of taking music to the next level!  Hopefully, my musical highlight is somewhere in the future yet!

If your trumpet were an animal which animal would it be?
That's easy........ a chameleon!  I am not looking to create new music or even a new trumpet sound!  I play the music of other greats, from Harry James to Arturo Sandoval, from Maurice Andre to Chuck Mangione!  I am playing a broad array of music that hopefully has my own unique sound... let's say..... a touch of Gary Greenfelder.

What do you listen to... when you're not practicing or performing? What's in your cd player?
I listen mostly to the music that I perform or hope to perform sometime.  Currently:  Count Basie, Arturo Sandoval, Alison Balsom, Bobby Shew, Jack Sheldon, Lincoln Jazz Orchestra, Jim Rotundi, Patrick Williams (big band), Tom Kubis, etc....  

Where do you hope your music will take you in the future?
I believe I have already said it.... to the next level (continuous improvement) is always my goal.  I am not trying to make some big name for myself.... I'm trying to promote the music I love to play so others may learn to love it as I have.

I've known Jake Baldwin for years. I love the fact that every time I see him, I feel like he's on the verge of something new. Jake and his friends in RaRaRu have a new CD that comes out tomorrow! I asked him to tell me a little more about it and what he's up to these days...

Tell me about Ra Ra Ru.
Ra Ra Ru essentially started as a rebellion against jazz school in 2011. I don't mean jazz school as in that specific school, but more so the way some players go about music and give off a "jazz school" vibe. Some people are just stuck in the 50's. Anyway, while there is a definite time and place for that, bassist Pat Kuehn, drummer Nick Neuburg, and myself were sick of it. One night after a particularly frustrating jam session, we got together ad agreed to just make music that we liked and see where it went. 

Initially, everything we did was just improvised, but as we got to know each other's playing better, trends and melodies started to appear. The resulting songs were a product of our three personalities and very different musical backgrounds merging. As time went on, longtime friend of mine and fellow Minnesotan John Cushing began attending the New England Conservatory and was an obvious addition to the band on trombone. Lastly, I ran into and started playing with guitarist Asher Kurtz by chance, but it was one of those meeting where you know you and the other person could do great things together, so Asher joined the band recently and is on the recording.

The ultimate goal of Ra Ra Ru is to make good music that has interesting melodies, enough freedom to be different every time, and most of all to have fun with music. I really think we have accomplished that with this record.

When does the new album come out?
The album "Metallic Ink Co" comes out April 28th

What's it like?
Like I said before, since everyone in the band contributed at least one song to this album, it goes a lot of places. There are some grooves, some really free sections, some unexpected moments, and some downright silly moments. 

Where can we buy it?
It will be available for download from Bandcamp, other major download sites, through our label Electricity is magic (http://electricityismagic.com/) and I will also have some physical copies that I will sell at shows and through my website (jakebjazz.com) 

Is there a CD Release show?
There is going to be one. It will be a house party type situation in Boston, MA, on May 3. If you're in the area, send me an email for details...

Any other recordings coming out this year?
Under my own name, no. I am however, on a lot of recordings that will be out. Part of my job as a freelance musician is to do studio work, which I love. The main project that I'm looking forward to hearing the final product of, is the Love Experiment. It's this 11 piece neo-soul collective based out of New York that I'm a part of. I've been going back once every three months or so to record more, and so far the record sounds crazy 

Do you write a lot of your own music? Where can we hear some of it.
I do a lot of writing yes. For me it kind of comes in waves, where I'll go months without writing a tune and then write three in a day. I try to keep some current recordings up on my website jakebjazz.com and also on my soundcoud page: https://soundcloud.com/jake-baldwin-1

How long have you been playing the trumpet?
I started the trumpet when I was 10, so it's been 13 ears now. 

What made you decide to go into music / how did you start out?
That's a tough question. I guess music was always such a part of my life that it seemed like the natural choice. Nobody in my family is a professional musician, but everyone is very musical in some sense of the word. I don't remember ever not having music on when my family was home growing up. Also, because I was aways surrounded by a really wide range of music, practicing ever seemed like a chore to me since most of my "practicing" would be me trying to play along to the various songs my Dad had on. 

In terms of getting started out, I've always been lucky enough to have teachers and mentors who have provided tremendous support beyond the call of duty whenever I needed it. The man who fueled my love of music initially was my middle school band director in the little town of Florence, Oregon. His name is Shannon Dickey, and the man is a saint. He got so much talent out of that tiny school, it's bonkers. There was another trumpeter there, Kai Sandoval (who ironically was the only other jazz trumpeter in my year when we later attended the New England Conservatory after not seeing each other for years), and Mr. Dickey would always pit us against each other, but he also always came up with ways to make us work together. It was that competitive spirit with emphasis on teamwork, that got me all the opportunities that I've had to this day. 

Is music your full time job? Do you want it to be?
In a sense. All of the jobs that I've had since entering "adult life" or whatever you want to call it, have been music, or more specifically, trumpet related. Performing will always be my passion and hopefully the only thing that I do someday. 

Luckily for me, I'm a huge trumpet nerd and love all things involved with trumpet. This has lead me to some really cool opportunities job wise. At one point I was fortunate enough to work at Harrelson Trumpets where I got to watch Jason Harrelson design and build beautiful trumpets all day long. This job actually helped my trumpet playing immensely because Jason taught me so much about how the trumpet, as a machine, works. I honestly feel like acoustical physics should be something they teach music majors. Once you REALLY know how your horn works, a lot of things become a whole lot easier to fix. 

I currently work for Torpedo Bags trumpet cases and love that job because I get to talk to people about trumpet on the phone all day. On top of that, I do a fair amount of teaching, but my main gig is performing. A lot of the performance work I do is freelancing, so one night I could be playing polka and the next night I might be playing with a salsa band. It keeps things fresh. Of course, I do a lot of work on my own music, but right now I'm in a phase where I'm building up an idea of what I really want "my" sound to be.

What type of performing are you doing right now around the twin cities?
Every kind of music imaginable. You name it, I've played it since being back. Minneapolis has such a rich arts and music scene, and becoming a part of that has really kept me on toes. It's really nice for me though because it has given me so much to practice that I can then bring to my own music.

What else is in the works for you in the coming year?
Well, if I were to be really ambitious, I would say an album of the music I've been working on lately. This stuff is a lot more minimalist and more folky. I've been trying to focus on just writing melodies and worrying less about improvising. Honestly though, who knows. My passions and tastes seem to change like the weather. I also play to get records out of two new groups I've a member of. One is a group where I'm using a lot of electronics, which is new territory for me. We call ourselves Friends of Noam Chomsky. Let's hope we can get a record together for you soon.

What's your current gig schedule like? Where can we see you play?
April 28th: With No Coast Quintet at the Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN 9:30pm
May 2nd: with Love Experiment at the Harvard Arts Festival in Cambridge, MA at 5pm
May 3rd: Ra Ra Ru CD RELEASE PARTY in Jamaica Plain, MA (E-mail for details)
May 5th: Featured Artist at Jazz Central w/ B3 Organ Trio. Jazz Central, Minneapolis, MN 8:30pm
June 27th: With Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at the Twin Cities Jazz Fest, St. Paul, MN 7pm

I try to keep this updated on my website as well. Sometimes I'm a little behind on posting stuff because, well, because life. But being too busy is certainly better than being bored.

If your trumpet were an animal which animal would it be?
I'd have to say polar bear. I say this because the trumpet is a beautiful instrument to look at, but some days it just hunts you down and eats you alive.

What do you listen to... when you're not practicing or performing? What's in your CD Player?
Oh man, that's tough. I could talk for hours about all of the albums in my record pile currently, but let's keep it simple and I'll just list what's in m car currently.

Like Clockwork - Queens of the Stoneage
Bowser - Jonwayne
Candy - Lee Morgan
Turn on the Bright Lights - Interpol
Illmatic - Nas
Give the People What They Want - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

And in the tape deck I currently have:

Les Stances a Sophie - Art Ensemble of Chicago


Where do you hope your music will take you in the next 5 years?
My ultimate goal is to travel around the world making music. It could be my music or someone else's. Either way I'm just grateful for the opportunities I've been given so far and hope to continue moving forward.

And in the spirit of moving forward... if you'd like to see Jake play tonight... he will be performing with No Coast Quintet at ICEHOUSE in Minneapolis. A great venue with cute little cocktails and a balcony perch, the best place to take it all in. I can't wait to get my copy of Metallic Ink Co. (I have a feeling the clever title is just the beginning) 

"It would be one of those house cats that just loves to be pet to the point of purring and closing its eyes, only to all of a sudden bite and kick with it’s back legs. 

Sweet but with a dark side!"

Cindy Bradley is and has been taking the Smooth Jazz world by storm for quite some time. She was named "New Artist of the Year" in 2011 by the Contemporary Jazz Awards - Her latest project "Bliss" will be released May 27th and after the success of her last album Unscripted, which reached #1 on Billboards Album Chart for 2 weeks straight... I can't wait to hear what she's got for us now. I caught up with her earlier this week... she's a busy lady so it was great to catch her quick for a short interview. She has a full performing schedule this year in addition to her CD Release. For more information check out her website:

http://www.cindybradley.com/



How long have you been playing the trumpet?
I have been playing the trumpet since I was in 4th grade.  I started out playing the piano when I was 5. When it was time to sign up for a band instrument at school I forgot to bring my permission slip home to my parents.  The teacher actually sought me out the day they were due because she knew I played the piano and liked music.  She told me that I could be in the band but I had to circle the instrument I wanted to play right then and there.  I circled the trumpet randomly because I wasn’t sure what most of the other instruments were!

What made you decide to go into music / how did you start out?
I played trumpet all throughout school but always wanted to go into medicine.  When I got into middle school I joined a swing band that was outside of school and involved lots of kids from throughout the community (the group was called “Sugar & Jazz” and still exists in Buffalo to this day).  That group made me fall in love with the trumpet.  I loved swing music and loved to improvise.  It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I decided I had to go to school for music though.  When faced with the decision of what to study in college I felt I should do what I really loved.  

If you weren't a trumpet player... which instrument would you play and why?
I actually play a few instruments and studied double bass from 7th grade on.  I went to college and was going to be a jazz double bass minor.  The college work was too rigorous for me to keep up on two instruments though, so I stopped playing the bass.  I absolutely love it and would definitely want to be a bass player if I didn’t play trumpet.

Who are some of your musical influences?
I love hard bop trumpet players and have studied their playing quite extensively.  Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Blue Mitchell, and especially Lee Morgan.  They have had the biggest influence on my trumpet playing.  I’ve always been a huge Oscar Peterson fan as well.  

Is music your full time job? Do you want it to be?
Besides the performing and recording I do as a musician, I am also a full time band teacher in an elementary school in New Jersey.  I love teaching music as much as I love playing it. As long as I can continue to balance my two careers, I would never give up either.

Tell me your thoughts about being one of the highest profile women in the "boys club" of trumpet playing.
Whenever a woman is in a male dominated field it comes with a unique set of experiences.  Being a female trumpet player has both helped and hindered my career at different times.  There have certainly been gigs that I was given that were then taken away when someone found out the horn player was a woman (usually because they were convinced a woman couldn’t play hard enough or well enough), or gigs I couldn’t get in the first place because someone was not willing to hire a woman.  However, I have also been seen as a bit of a novelty due to the fact that there are less woman doing what I do.  I know it helped me to get a record deal, and I know there are promoters that book me on their festivals because they believe people will buy tickets to see a woman play trumpet because they may have not seen that before.  To be successful I believe women have to prove themselves a bit more, and work very hard.  There will always be people that will treat someone like me unfairly, as well as those that embrace a woman that plays well.  I’ve found there are many more people that embrace me and I’m happy for that.

Do you write a lot of music?
I do write a lot of music at this point in my life, mostly due to my recording career.  In the past I used to feel like musicians either spent most of their time mastering playing their instruments, or composing for many hours a day.  It’s people that naturally do both well that I find amazing.  Playing was something I always worked at and enjoyed.  Writing took me longer to improve at and I found it takes just as much dedication in order to learn to do it well.  I still work very hard at getting to be a better and better writer.

What type of performing are you doing right now?
Most of the performing I do at this point is with my own show.  I play at a lot of smooth jazz festivals and different jazz clubs around the world.

I know you have a new album coming out ... your last album “Unscripted” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Album Chart... what can we look forward to with your new album "Bliss"...
Unscripted was recorded during a very difficult time in my life.  I was dealing with a lot of illness within my family, and the loss of people I loved.  I poured a lot of that emotion into Unscripted and I think it explores a certain mood that I couldn’t turn away from when I was making the album.  Things in my life are wonderful at the moment and “Bliss” is a reflection of that.  There are still fun, funky tracks as well as more moody and beautiful ones, but they are more in the spirit of life and love.  It’s being released on May 27th of this year and I’m really excited about it!

I see you just got back from the Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival... tell me about it.
The Palm Spring’s Women’s Jazz Fest was quite an experience.  I love to see female musicians playing together and doing it well – and this was a full weekend of exactly that.  I performed with some friends of mine in the group “Jazz in Pink.”  It was a really unique experience that I think was wonderful for people to see and for me to be a part of.

What else is in the works for you in the coming year?
Since my new cd is about to be released, I will be focused on doing a lot of touring to promote the album.  There are still many places I haven’t played and I look forward to checking them off of my musical bucket list.  I’m also currently recording on several other artists’ cds, including a track for Paul Hardcastle.  Besides music, I’m doing a lot more volunteer work for different animal causes, including working at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary when I have free days during the summer.  That’s another one of my loves in life.

What's your current gig schedule like? Where can we see you play?
More and more shows are coming in for 2014 but I am currently scheduled to perform in Sacramento, Winnipeg, Panama City Beach, San Antonio, Atlanta, and some others.  You can always stay up to date on where I will be by visiting cindybradley.com

Musical highlight of your career?
It is difficult for me to pick just one, but the one that comes to mind would have to be my first big solo jazz show.  I had just gotten signed to Trippin’ N’ Rhythm records and my first cd was finished.  I got booked to play at the Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival and the record label president, Les Cutmore, along with the vice president, were coming to see my show.  My parents also flew across the country to see me perform and they hadn’t seen me play in a very long time.  I felt so much pressure and hadn’t really done a show full of my own music before.  The show turned out great and I was so relieved that I always consider that a highlight of my career.  All the people that believed in me were there in the same room, and I really didn’t want to disappoint them!

If your trumpet were an animal which animal would it be?
It would be one of those house cats that just loves to be pet to the point of purring and closing its eyes, only to all of a sudden bite and kick with it’s back legs.  Sweet but with a dark side!

Where do you hope your music will take you in the future?
Music has honestly taken me more places than I ever dreamed of.  I always worked towards a career as a solo trumpet artist, but never thought I would experience the things that I have at this point.  I’m very thankful to those that have believed in me and gave me a shot.  Now I want to keep playing and traveling and meeting more people.  I hope to never stop growing as a musician, writer, and performer.

We are in the business of custom building our instruments one at a time for you. If you are a client... past or present... you know that having a Harrelson Trumpet built for you involves a one on one conversation or many with Jason... you know that there are a multitude of options... some clients have told us this can be daunting at first... but Jason and Christine really do help you every step of the way... to make the choices necessary to build you something truly unique and custom fit to you. If there is one thing Jason and I (and now Christine as well) have always been challenged by... is the sheer volume of questions we receive on a daily basis. In the beginning we sorta thought... "We will just build whatever anyone wants... the way they want it... " in theory that is a fun and exciting idea. Actually... in reality it is a fun and exciting thing... but the thing we didn't realize at the outset of this endeavor... was how many questions this would create. We get so many questions every single day. Sometimes they repeat... like... "what's the best size bottom cap for my playing style" or "which tuning slide is the most free blowing"... but I am not exaggerating when I say... even though we have been doing this for 15 years... we still get at least one brand new question per day... if not several ... it really does keep us on our toes... and we love it. I feel like I learn something new every day... and I enjoy it when someone asks me something and I think... hmmmm ... good question... never thought of that before.

So, because we do receive so many questions. We've decided to host live web events ... usually once a week... on youtube. We have a large subscription base on our youtube channel... and often we are approached at shows or lectures by someone that says... "I've been watching your videos on XYZ... and I learned this or that"... so in the interest of answering many questions at one time... and creating an archive of those questions online... we're starting this new program.

We have hosted 4 of these so far... and they've been quite a success. If you'd like to join in tomorrow... at 2pm Central Time you can watch the live broadcast on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9916WygSdbY

Also.. if you 'd like to check out some of our past events... I've posted the videos below.

Thanks! And get your questions ready. I know you've got some.

Just a friendly reminder that our trade and demo stock is constantly changing! We currently have 3 Harrelson Demo Trumpets in stock that are READY TO SHIP IMMEDIATELY... We are making all new demos for the ITG Conference in May. We also have a Taylor C Trumpet and a gorgeous Vintage Olds Recording. If you're in the market for a trumpet... I do believe we have a pretty steady rotation of top quality used instruments... and frequently sell some of our own Harrelson Demos....

Click here to see our full inventory: http://www.harrelsontrumpets.com/category_s/105.htm

"My trumpet is some sort of wild beast.  Maybe a dragon? 
It is persnickety and untamable, proud, powerful, chaotic, handsome yet sultry, deadly.

It does what it wants and I go along to enjoy the mad ride."

Every day from 9-5 (actually that's not true... I am usually late) I sit across the room from Christine Palmer. She has proven to be nothing short of a miracle in this office. Harrelson Trumpets is a labor of love... Jason and I started this company in a tiny office... and cleaned the first trumpets in our bathtub. So... we have a real personal investment for our "baby" ... after all... this has been where we put our hearts and time... for longer than either of us can remember. We nurture this business and truly care for it like we would a child... So, it follows suit that we can be quite protective of who we entrust to look after it for us. Often times over the course of this company's history... we have looked at one another with our hands up in the air and resolved that if something had to be done... we could do it better ourselves. So... we often did. Everything ourselves. Simply put... that is exhausting. Christine is not only the best employee we've ever had helping us in the office... she really loves trumpets. And has a sincerely curiosity about the way they are built. And, I think she really cares about Harrelson Trumpets. As if it were her own... which she should... because now she is part of it too. And we truly could not do this without her. I know that not a day goes by where I don't personally value her help and unwavering positive outlook and enthusiasm.

So... I have had the pleasure of getting to know this awesome woman over the course of the last year. And I am thoroughly impressed. Friday night she performed at The Dakota for the late set with her band Prior Avenue. The band has a solid funk sound and an awesome energy. Christine dazzled from center stage with a beautiful sound... flanked by a solid sax player with a perma-smile and the trombonist with enough enthusiasm to fuel the room. There was a sprinkling of originals by Sean McGee, Prior Avenue's band leader and guitar player... who was on bass that night. The evening was high energy and classic funk poured off stage with such numbers as Superstition by Stevie Wonder and Unchain my Heart by Joe Cocker. Friday night featured 2 guest vocalists that revved things up and really got the crowd excited. Prior Avenue is one of those groups that you can count on to deliver... and they have so much fun! They'll be at Schueller's Apr. 26 ... if you're looking for some funky fun... don't miss it!

I asked Christine to tell me a little bit more about how she got into music... and what she's up to... here's her interview:

Where did you go to school?
After living all over the US and abroad, I decided to go to college near my family at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.  I was lucky enough to study trumpet with Dr. Dale White – who became a peerless mentor and close friend.  I then received my Master’s degree from the University of Colorado, studying with the supremely talented Terry Sawchuk.

How did you come to decide to be a music major?
That is a good question, considering I thought I was going to be a math teacher at the end of high school.  I think I just couldn’t NOT play trumpet, and took every opportunity I could to keep playing, eventually adding a trumpet major onto my physics major.  Towards the end of undergrad I faced a conundrum that most musicians likely face at one time or another: should I try to continue (perhaps selfishly) pursuing this inspirational but cutthroat trumpet path, or should I try to get a “real” job?  I was even told by multiple musicians that if I can be happy doing ANYTHING besides music, I should do that instead.   I’m kind of a stubborn person though, and decided that I needed to push myself with music to see how far I could take it.  I could always fall back on my physics background or get a “real” job if things didn’t work out.  I'm still pushing.

Would you like to make music your full time job?
I have a monumental amount of respect for every musician who is making his or her way with talent, gigs, and teaching alone.  That takes extreme confidence, dedication, gumption, risk-taking, failure-survival skills, and soul-searching.  I happen to be one of the luckiest people in the world, who can work with these people and the instruments we love every single day, and still perform and become ever more fluent at speaking through my horn at night. There is a tangible freedom with this arrangement, where both pastimes nurture and feed off of each other, spiraling outward into something denser than either could encompass on its own.  I wouldn’t choose to change that for the world.

How long have you been working with Harrelson Trumpets?
Jason hired me at the end of the summer of 2012 to help out in the office.  I worked a little bit from a distance that next year, then started full time in May 2013 when I graduated.

Tell me about how that came to be.
I don’t completely know that one myself.  But I’ve always been interested in the mechanical side of trumpets, completed a physics thesis about variations in trumpet intonation etc… I vaguely entertained ideas of finding a graduate program in musical acoustics, only to realize that barely any exist.  Harrelson Trumpets were first introduced to me at the Minneapolis ITG in 2011 and I became extremely excited.  Like many others, I pored over the detailed website and drank in the pioneering spirit of the company.

Fast forward to my time in graduate school, where I was performing daily and wondering how I could ever compete in a music world so saturated with unique and talented trumpet players who are all run through essentially the same training program in schools around the world.  A friend encouraged me to find the ways my trumpet playing background was different from everyone else's and sharpen that focus point.  I ended up working on a research project to investigate trumpet manufacturing and find what innovation was currently happening in the world of trumpet builders.  This involved sifting through a deluge of Schilke's notes on microfilm, Bach handbooks, Monette videos, more websites and books than I can remember, and I kept coming back to Harrelson. This was the one company that really explained how its trumpets were built, and what they were changing from everyone else's now-dated methods.  No trumpet company responded to my requests for interviews (and why should they – a request from a random student...), but I knew I needed to find a way to get involved with Harrelson.  I went to the Harrelson shop one day and picked Jason's brain about his trumpet methods, and had a job a few months later. I couldn't describe a better place to spend my days.

Tell me about prior avenue. what kind of music do you guys play. 
Prior Avenue is all funk/soul, it's music to make you groove the whole night!  We play the killer hits everyone knows: Earth, Wind, and Fire, Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, the Gap Band... with a healthy dose of kickin' original funky tunes by our talented band leader Sean McGee.  There are a lot of bands out there playing music like us, but we have an absolute blast doing it.

Are you guys in a regular rotation to perform at the dakota? where else can we see P.A. Play?
Prior Avenue will probably play at the Dakota around once a month at least through the summer.  We play all around the twin cities area... We'll be back at Schueller's Apr. 26, and Hanger 45/Tasty Pizza May 3. http://prioravenueband.com/

What other groups are you in right now?
I'm also in a slower soul/R&B group called Soul Accord that is just getting off the ground.   We've done one show so far at the Dakota, and look for us around the twin cities soon! http://soul-accord.com/

I also love joining my friends the 4th Liners once in a while for some classic rock (https://www.facebook.com/The4thLiners?fref=ts), and it's always fun to get back to my classical roots at weddings and church services around town.

If your trumpet was an animal which animal would it be?
My trumpet is some sort of wild beast.  Maybe a dragon?  It is persnickety and untameable, proud, powerful, chaotic, handsome yet sultry, deadly. It does what it wants and I go along to enjoy the mad ride.

Who are some of your musical influences?
Music influences are all over the map.  I tend to become semi-obsessed with one artist or composer for long periods of time, spending months trying to dance like Michael Jackson or learning to emulate the nuances of Eminem's raps.  (I have irritated many a roommate...)  I am entranced by Alice in Chains.  My mind is dissected and then blown apart by Between the Buried and Me.  I've had long flings with Mahler and Shostakovitch.   Really the only genre I can't tolerate is country music. 

Back within the trumpet realm, I've probably been the most enthralled with Phil Smith, Allison Balsom, Maurice Andre, of course Miles Davis... really I try to soak up every trumpet player I hear because they all have different nuances and characteristics to teach me.

Where do you see yourself going musically in the coming year.
Hmm... I've definitely been enjoying the commercial side of things lately, but I would like to get back into a classical brass choir or quintet again at some point. There is really nothing juicier than a perfectly in-tune brass chord where you can feel those crazy harmonics pinging around your brain.  I absolutely love arranging music - it's literally one of my favorite pastimes - so I can't wait to find more genres to meld together into new arrangements. Long term, I really want to dig into symphonic rock and find ways to integrate the complexity of an orchestral symphony with the power and contrast in progressive rock... where both the lyrics and the music work together to access ideas that delve deeper into our psyche.  I haven't really found anything out there yet that fits the bill and uses brass instruments, but I'm fascinated by the possibilities.

Last night I went to see The McNasty Brass Band at The Amsterdam Bar in St. Paul. (here's a little about the show if you're interested) We have 3 clients in that band... all of them are great guys... I caught up with Hayden Fihn... who has been with McNasty since it's conception... here's what he had to say...

How long have you been playing trumpet?
I started playing trumpet in 5th grade.  I really wanted to play percussion but the requirement to do so was 2 years of piano lessons.  I had taken one year and decided I didn’t like it.  I regret that a lot now.  But anyway, the band teacher had me try Alto sax and trumpet.  I played 2 notes on the saxophone and put it down.  So trumpet it was.  The following year I really wanted to switch to tenor saxophone but my Mom wouldn’t allow it.  That was probably a really good decision.

Have you always wanted to be a musician?
Nope.  I didn’t really take music seriously, let alone trumpet until I was almost done with high school.  I was really into sports and the strategy behind it and just played trumpet because it was a requirement and I was somewhat decent at it.  It sort of came easy to me and I didn’t have to practice so it was good in my book.  (Another regret).  My senior year of high school I was playing in the local university jazz band and at that point decided to do a trumpet performance degree there the following fall.  That didn’t work out but it got me started on the path I’m currently on.

Where are you going to school?
I’m currently in my final semester at McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul.  

I see you have your senior recital coming up…What can you tell me about that?
I sure do.  At McNally you do two recitals, a Junior and a Senior.  This is my senior recital and it’s a requirement to pass the recital before you can graduate.  It’s quite a bit of pressure but it’s been kind of fun to pick tunes and do it how I want it done.  That being said, I’m actually doing a joint recital with Elliott Wachs, a saxophone player at McNally who has been in the same courses and ensembles as me since we started.  As far as I know we’re one of the firsts to have a joint recital and also to do it off campus.

Studio Z (Lowertown Saint Paul)
Thursday April 24
8:00pm

Would you like to make music your full-time job?
The short answer is yes.  I think the majority of music students want that as the ultimate goal. 

Who are some of your musical influences?
I got a late start in listening to the greats and that is something I’ve had to try and overcome.  I think Freddie Hubbard was the first trumpet player I really got into and I think a lot of him comes out in my playing.  Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan of course.  And more modern guys are Sean Jones, Fabrizio Bosso, and Christian Scott.

Tell me about McNasty.  How long have you been with that group?
McNasty is a New Orleans style brass band that has slowly morphed into more of a funk brass band. The cool part about the band is that we are completely mobile with split percussion and a sousaphone.  We’re doing something pretty cool in both the funk scene and the brass band world.  I’m excited to see how the band evolves in the near future.

I’ve been with the band since it’s conception in 2011.  We started as a school ensemble at MSCM under the direction of Scott Agster (Jack Brass Band) and broke off from the school last spring.  We took a trip to New Orleans in 2012 and that really helped us understand what we wanted to do.

What’s your favorite song that McNasty does?
We’re still young, so we play a lot of covers of other brass bands or of pop songs.  So for those I really dig the songs we do with vocals and call and response such as You Know, You Know and Wind It Up.  We’re currently writing more tunes and those are usually the ones I really enjoy playing.

Do you play in any other groups?
Yeah, I play regularly with Jack Brass Band, Steve Sullivan and the Factory, Improvestra, and the Blue Water Kings Band.  I also do quite a bit of freelance and studio gigs.

Where do you see yourself going musically in the coming year?
Finally graduating will open up a lot of avenues that I just haven’t had time to pursue.  I want to do a lot of writing and arranging in the next year for the groups I play in now.  As well as playing a lot and maybe starting a new group.

If your trumpet were an animal, which animal would it be?
This was by far the hardest question.  I would say maybe a tiger.  Powerful, but can sneak up on you as well.  I try to be able to do both, although you wouldn’t know that if you only saw me play with McNasty!

Musical highlight of your year?
I went to Guatemala last year with an ensemble from school.  That was pretty crazy and inspiring.  We played 3 packed shows during the country’s jazz fest.  It was probably the biggest stage I’ve played on thus far.

What do you listen to?
Good question.  I’m the kind of person who needs to get away from music every now and again.  So when I’m not playing or at school, a lot of times I won’t have any music playing.  But I do listen a lot, and lately it’s been a lot of Troy Roberts, Fabrizio Bosso, Lettuce, Youngblood Brass Band and a lot of other modern guys.

One thing is certain... the boys in the McNasty Brass Band don't stand still. I took almost 200 pictures last night... and very few didn't capture the constant motion of the band. These guys are all fun all the time. I personally know a few of them pretty well and they are the kind of dudes you'd love to have at your party or sit around and have a beer with... in short... they make you smile. It's a great thing when you get to watch and hear so much of that energy pouring off stage... it's contagious. By the end of the show people were clearing the tables and chairs from the floor and the evening erupted in an all out dance party. I have a soft spot for brass bands... sometimes if you close your eyes... you can almost smell the beignets and feel the heavy air of New Orleans. If you've never seen them... please do your northern soul a favor... and spend an evening having a blast. For more information on the McNasty Brass Band... https://www.facebook.com/mcnastybrassband 
They'll be playing one of my favorite bars in the city on May 3rd... so why not kill two birds with one stone... and check them out at Palmers in a couple of weeks... you won't regret the venue or the music... or the dance party.

These guys really don't stand still for more than a millisecond... but I guess I can't blame them...

I met Joshua Trinidad for the first time at The Oriental Theater in Denver, CO... he had invited us out for a special event to present him with his new Harrelson Summit Trumpet the night he was opening for The Bad Plus. It was an awesome night of music. I see a lot of trumpet performances... and I always find it inspiring when trumpeters put a new twist on the old tried and true sound. Josh does just that... and with style. I personally love the eerie and ethereal sounds that emanate from his horn. I also have always been fascinated by the concept of funeral music... which is why I wanted to talk to him more about his current project "Cortege". Josh takes his music very seriously but he has fun doing it. I already pre-ordered my copy of Cortege... this is one of my favorite tracks from an earlier project he did... If you're in the Denver area... I highly recommend you take in one of his shows. And... when you do, stop by and tell him I say hi. Here's what he had to say about what he's working on now...

Musical highlight of your year?
I think anytime I go to New York to play is a highlight. Last time I was out there, I played with Rudy Royston and that was a lot of fun. Currently, I am excited to possibly play some international festivals  in Toronto and possibly another chance to go to England. 

If your trumpet were an animal which animal would it be?
I would have to say that my trumpet is like a Koala Bear. It is soft and has a real fluffy sound, but there is still a small bite inside of the tone. 

What do you listen to... when you're not recording/performing? What's in your cd player?
Right now, I have been listening to sigur rós, Radiohead, Bjork, Tune Yards, Cuddle Magic, Wu Tang Clan, Tyga, Erik Truffaz and Sage Francis.

I first met Josh Shpak last summer at the Harrelson Trumpets shop. He stopped by to try out different leadpipe and bell configurations for a Harrelson Summit. Even before hearing him play I thought he had a great presence and an even better smile. Some people seem sort of ageless... Josh is one of those people and it comes through in his music. For a musician in his early 20s... it's amazing how mature the melodies Josh produces are. I am excited to watch his musical career take shape in the coming years... I caught up with him after his performance at The National Trumpet Competition. I am sure you'll agree he is one to watch.

How long have you been playing the trumpet? 
What made you decide to go into music / how did you start out?
I have been playing the trumpet since I joined the fourth grade band at my elementary school.  I was age 9, so I suppose around 12 years now.  I was very lucky in that I started off right away with a fantastic teacher, my godfather Michael Miller, who is both a trumpeter and very successful composer.  I enjoyed right from the start the pleasure of playing an instrument...however, the trumpet is not in any way easy. There was always the standard with Michael, as well as in myself, that if I was going to commit so much of my time to doing something, I'd have to do it well.  This helped me build a higher level of discipline at an earlier age than a lot of my peers, which I think has helped me perhaps more than anything.

If you weren't a trumpet player... which instrument would you play and why.
I always kick myself that I asked my mom to let me stop taking piano lessons when I was 7...because now I'm doing the same major scales and beginning studies when I'm 20! Piano is just such a powerful instrument, so full of depth.  To play the piano in a musical situation impacts the music in an extremely profound way...it's difficult as a horn player I feel to provide as much of a framework to the music as a pianist. 

That being said, I try to make my trumpet playing very guitaristic.  The beauty, sound and clarity possible in each guitarist's notes is a really great thing to strive for when playing trumpet, and a lot of my favorite music is guitar-heavy. 

Who are some of your musical influences and why?
I am really into many different types of music, so I'd say that like most musicians of this era, my influences are eclectic. I grew up listening to a lot of rock and funk music that my parents liked, bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, Blood, Sweat and Tears, AC/DC, Tower of Power (who I've now had the amazing fortune of playing with on multiple occasions).  In 7th grade I first started getting into jazz, and listened to a Miles Davis (first quintet) compilation album for a year solid.  From there I moved on to Clifford Brown, Clark Terry (my mentor) Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, all straight-ahead jazz kind of stuff.  Early high school I moved into listening to a lot of big band stuff, Latin music...when I discovered Roy Hargrove's RH Factor in my Junior year of high school that totally changed my life.  The jazz influence on this hip-hop/groove/funk music was just so inspiring for me.  It seemed like something my non-musician friends would also be down with, which was very cool to me.  From there I got into hip-hop, Neo-Soul, stuff like D'Angelo, Tribe Called Quest, J-Dilla...then Flying Lotus and electronic artists.  
Berklee, where I am currently, is an amazing, amazing place for someone who likes so many different types of music.  I currently listen to everything; from Thundercat to Joni Mitchell to Wayne Shorter to a Howard Shore film score...Diversity is key!

What are your plans after granduation?
I'm still figuring that out! 
My plan is to be moving to either New York or LA, perhaps enroll in a master's program.

Tell me about NTC. Was this the first time you participated? What did you perform? 
Yes, this was my first time at NTC.  I performed an all-Wayne Shorter set in the semifinals (Infant Eyes and Speak No Evil), and an original of mine, Infant Eyes again and an arrangement of Invitation in the finals.

I was looking over your bio... you've placed in a lot of competitions... tell me a little about that... are you a finalist in anything else at the moment?
Yes, I have done a few competitions in the past.  I definitely find it's a great way to meet awesome musicians (I met some people at NTC that I know will be friends for years), as well as a way to get your name out there.  

Do you ever write music?
I write a LOT, and I love it.  It's extremely important to me, as I hope that most people will listen to me for my music, not just my trumpet playing!!! One of my majors at Berklee is in film scoring, so I am pretty much writing daily for school as well.

On a side note... I learned that Josh actually won the 2014 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award for his piece, "LET GO", which he performed at a concert he put on last October at Berklee with John Daversa as his guest artist.

Tell me about RIPE. What kind of music do you play?
Ripe is an awesome Funk/Rock/Pop band I'm in...actually I find the best way to describe us is as a party band.  If you're going to come to one of our shows, you will be dancing, and you will be having a great time.  I joined the band in 2011, which formed at Berklee, and we have been steadily been gaining a following.  It's a lot of fun being in a real band, which is not that common anymore.  We rehearse 2-3 times a week, and have some touring coming up.  We've been playing a lot of universities lately, which is always a blast.

What other performing are you doing right now?
This next month is going to be pretty crazy for me.  I'm doing tons of performing around Berklee and the Boston area right now, everything from jazz recitals to General Business corporate gigs.  Ripe is playing at Brighton Music Hall on the 10th which is one of the biggest Boston venues.  We're also playing some college shows this month spread all across the East Coast, from Massachusetts to North Carolina.  I'm going to be Brooklyn, New York at Shapeshifter Labs playing with this great instrumental-funk group called Ninjabeat.  Lots of stuff. 

Any plans for recording?
The group I just mentioned, Ninjabeat, is recording on May 4th I believe, so we're doing a bunch of rehearsing right now.  I'm always doing sideman recording around Berklee.  That's fun because you get to do a whole range of different stuff...for example, I recorded trumpet parts for a metal band a couple weeks ago.  What?? Every day is an adventure.  

As for my own stuff, I've been playing a bit with a couple different quartets recently and I'm trying to get those off the ground.  One of them is in a more modern jazz sensibility, the other very rock/groove oriented.  So, we've been doing some low-key recording, just to get some demo's.  We'll see what happens!

What else is in the works for you in the coming year? What's your current gig schedule like? Where can we see you play?
This summer is shaping up to be pretty exciting.  My May is pretty full already with gigs around Boston and New England, some little tours with Ripe as well.  Then, in June I'm going to Colombia with a group from Berklee for two weeks.  We'll be doing some teaching and playing in various cities and schools.  This'll be my first time in the country so I'm very excited.  After that, I'm flying straight to New York, we're on playing some shows and doing some video shoots with the Mario Castro Quintet.  We recorded his latest album (which was incredible) in December and it's being released June 22nd.  I'll be in Europe later June/July, back in the states mid-July.  Hoping for some my Ripe touring on August, as well as maybe a West Coast stint with Mario to promote his album.  


Musical highlight of your year?
Of my year...hmm, tough.  I sat in with Tower of Power in January, which is always an awe-inspiring event.  Ripe also had it's biggest show ever in March (we headlined a major Boston club called the Middle East Downstairs), which was incredible.  Totally different experiences of course, but there's something special about working with a band for years rather than sitting in with someone.  
However, I'm supremely lucky that I get to play with amazing musicians daily here at Berklee.  I think that I take that for granted sometimes, but it's really a special place to be.

If your trumpet were an animal which animal would it be?
Wow, good question.  I always think of my trumpet as an arrow or something that is shooting out...but maybe a shark? 

What do you listen to... when you're not practicing or performing? What's in your cd player?
I'm always listening to totally different stuff, but I've been really interested in this guy Son Lux recently.  He's a producer/songwriter and his style has been called "orchestral pop", which I think sums it up nicely.  That style of producing/songwriting is really one of my favorites.  Son Lux, James Blake, Thundercat...that's all seriously inspiring stuff for me.  In terms of instrumental music,  Nicholas Payton and Rafiq Bhatia are two that stand out currently.  Very different, but both just so cool. 

Where do you hope your music will take you?
Making music has been an extremely inspiring and exciting path for me.  I've made some of the most amazing connections with people of all ages from different backgrounds, heritage's and lifestyles.  I hope that the journey will continue to be as inspiring as it has been to this point.  I know that as time passes, this will include change, adaptation and much, much learning.  But how amazing is it to make music throughout all of that?  In total, I hope to make my living as a musician in whatever capacity I can, whether it be through playing, writing, producing, teaching... whatever.  And, I hope to do it surrounded by the people that most inspire me!


Words to live by in my opinion... Thanks again Josh, for taking the time to tell me a little bit more about all of your exciting projects and the source of your inspiration. I am looking forward to checking back in with you soon.

Josh Shpak

“I love connecting with people,” says young trumpeter, Josh Shpak.  “Whether they be teenagers or your grandma, if I can see that they’re feeling the music, I’m happy.”  This breaking of generational gaps has become somewhat of a habit for the 20-year-old Berklee College of Music student.  With a rich style evident of influences from classic jazz toelectronica, Shpak has made himself a wanted commodity in the music world.  This cross-generational quality has launched a career playing with jazz heavy-weights, such as Cedar Walton and Jimmy Heath, soul legends Tower of Power, and young cross-over innovators like Esperanza Spalding, Christian Scott and John Daversa.  

A protégé of jazz icon Clark Terry, Josh Shpak is dually driven by a great respect for the past, and a drive to put his own mark on the future.  “Every great musician in history has been completely present in his or her own time period, while using their knowledge of the tradition to drive their creative forces.”

Among his numerous awards and accolades are being named 1 of the 4 trumpet finalists for the 2014-16 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, being chosen as a recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, being selected as a jazz finalist for the 2014 National Trumpet Competition, receiving a 2013 Downbeat Undergraduate Outstanding Jazz Trumpet Soloist award, being chosen as a resident of the Kennedy Center’s 2013 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program and the 2013 Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music, being commissioned to compose music for the 2013 French documentary film, “California Dream 3D”, as well as being named the 2012 Yamaha Young Performing Artists jazz trumpeter, and the 2012 National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts “YoungArts” jazz trumpet winner.


Here Josh is performing his NTC Audition Piece on his Harrelson Summit: