Delightful Detroit!

Last weekend Jason and I spent a few days in Detroit. We were greeted with a blizzard... turned ice storm. But that was the only part of the trip that wasn't warm and welcoming. Gary Greenfelder organized an event featuring The Gary Greenfelder Orchestra and Jason Harrelson with solos by amazing Harrelson Trumpets artists... Gary Greenfelder, Otto Alcon, Jimmy Smith, Mark Byerly, Ryan Dolan and friends!  It was a truly awesome night! The energy of real big band filled the room... and as I commented to Gary... it really was more like a theater than a bar... as people sat attentively watching each and every song. The only sour note of the night? No one asked me to dance :)

Friday found us making our way to Ypsilanti High School where Jason lectured on "Deconstructing the Trumpet" ... this is a portion of that lecture for those that have requested it. This was a science heavy hour but everyone in attendance ate up all of the physics behind Harrelson Trumpets. Thanks to everyone that made it out on a cold and blustery Friday afternoon.

Friday Night ... Gary showed us a fun night on the town ... we had front row seats at The Dirty Dog Jazz Club... to see Detroit Trumpet Legend Johnny Trudell... it was a cool little club... great food... I had a little crush on the Bass Player in the band... (he's in his 80s I think)... and Walter White sat in for a few songs! What a treat!!!

Onward to Saturday!

2 more lectures at The Detroit Wayne Music Studio. A cool little Detroit secret. Lots of awesome high end Saxophones and a cool music library! Everyone that came out for the lectures had a great time and lots of questions. Thanks again to The Detroit Wayne Music Studio for hosting us! And for the delicious lunch at the Italian place next door. Thanks also to Mark Byerly for coming down to speak as well. It is always so much fun to see the players out there take a real sincere interest in what we're doing here every day. After all... you're the reason we do what we do. I love making friends around the country... through music. It's nice to think of them while I am sitting here in the office... and know they're out there playing and practicing with something we've put all of our time and energy into. What a great job! One of our clients that lives in Toledo drove all the way out just to meet us in person. He walked up to me and said... Jen... are you "the Jen"... ha... I said, yes... that would be me... he said Hi... I'm John... I've talked to you on the phone... he brought his Bravura... which I had fun checking out. It's so cool to see older models come back to us. We literally usually only have an instrument in the shop for a day or less after it's completed... so you can imagine... it's kinda nice to see them down the road. Again... what a cool job! Ok... I will leave you with the last photos from the weekend... I have another event to finish planning for this weekend... and arrangements to make for our trip to The National Trumpet Competition in just a couple short weeks. Thanks again Gary Greenfelder and everyone in Detroit for making our trip such a joy... and thanks to all of you out there... that love music... it's what makes me smile when I come in to work in the morning.

And, as per usual... my personal artistic shots from the trip:

Thanks Detroit. I can't wait to come back.