Only through a careful look at past history are we able to understand what we do and the reasons we do them. This is especially true when trying to understand mistakes we have made in music education. I will try to explain my thinking as one who was there and watched it happen. During the 1960s the school stage band movement began to blossom. Heavily influenced by professional big bands such as Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bill Watrous, Don Ellis and others, high school band directors began to collect illegal record copies of these bands and…

Welcome to Part 2 of our interview with Jonathan Saraga. If you missed the first segment, be sure to read it for as the title states, “This is Required Reading. Now we continue with our interview. Do you prefer big band or combo work? “I’ll probably have to go with combo work. I really enjoy both for different reasons. Similar to the topic on preferred forms of improvisation, both of these require me to undertake a different role as a player. I enjoy playing in a trumpet section, and trying to blend in with the sounds and phrasing of 16…

I try to stay up with the current trumpet scene and for that reason I ran across a phenomenal young player by the name of Jonathan Saraga. Most often when cruising the net I will hear a player who has great range and endurance but lacks ideas or technique. On other occasions I’ll run across a great improviser who unfortunately lacks chops or technique. In rare cases I stumble over a player who exhibits all of these abilities and I am in awe of their ability. This was the case when I listed to a young man from Manhattan, New…

To most trumpet players, names such as Maynard Ferguson, Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Miles Davis and others are easily recognized through the many records on the market today. Strangely enough, many of these great players would have been overshadowed by the talent of a quiet, soft spoken trumpet player from Fort Worth, Texas. This incredibly talented and not well known to the public trumpet master was Mr. Don Thomas. While attending North Texas State, I had the good fortune to not only have meet Mr. Thomas but also record several jingles with him in the studios in Dallas. Little did…

I try to stay up with the current trumpet scene and for that reason I ran across a phenomenal young player by the name of Jonathan Saraga. Most often when cruising the net I will hear a player who has great range and endurance but lacks ideas or technique. On other occasions I’ll run across a great improviser who unfortunately lacks chops or technique. In rare cases I stumble over a player who exhibits all of these abilities and I am in awe of their ability. This was the case when I listed to a young man from Manhattan, New…

A good friend of ours shared some information about the musical activities in a well-known area known as The Villages, “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown”. The Villages is located in central Florida mid-way between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It’s an hour north of Orlando near Interstate 75 and the Florida Turnpike, close to Florida’s famous tourist attractions and Orlando’s International Airport. This popular city is far from what most would consider a retirement village as you will see from just the musical activities available there. Our new friend Corky has supplied us with a few of their instrumental activities and I…

From time to time I run across a musician or a band that I think should have extra recognition and today’s post features one such group. Information taken from their Web Site. Generation Esmeralda featuring Jimmy Goings is the current incarnation of the group Santa Esmeralda featuring Jimmy Goings. The group has come together through the urging of trumpet player, Tom Poole, from the original “Santa Esmeralda Touring Band” and Brazilian promoter, Sergio Lopes. Goings returns to the stage and touring in this new form as an exclusive tribute to the music and spirit of “Santa Esmeralda”. “GENERATION ESMERALDA FEATURING…

Check this site out and feel better all day…. Off Topic

The name Till Brönner might not be on every trumpet players list of great jazz musicians, but it should. The first time I listened to this gifted musician, I was amazed by the deep background of his styling. Many times I thought I was listening to Miles, other times I heard Chet Baker and still others, Dizzy. For such diversity to be bound up into one performer as young as Mr. Bonner is a true gift. To describe his effortless playing I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite musicians Jimmy Hendrix. What Hendrix was able to do so…