Trumpet Players Extravaganza

A dedicated lot of extraordinary musicians and trumpet players will present their sixth ‘Festival of New Trumpet Music,’ beginning this Saturday. The festival will run from September 13 through the 28 at various venues around New York City.

Festival of New Trumpet Music is a two-week celebration of the diverse contemporary music scene, including its international contributors. Through a series of commissioned works, concerts, master classes and panels it focuses on the multitude of ways the trumpet is being sounded, and in the most grassroots sense it brings players and communities together in an embrace of creative culture. This year’s festival will open with their first award of recognition. The award will be presented to Wadada Leo Smith for his visionary musical and cultural analysis, his revolutionary approach to composition and of course his brilliant brass playing. In addition, FONT Music 2008 is commissioning new music from three extraordinary players: Chris DiMeglio, Nabaté Isles, and Reut Regev. Participants will also witness a host of new collaborations amongst trumpeters of varied persuasions, including performances by Dave Douglas, Ralph Alessi, Avishai Cohen, Ingrid Jensen, Jeremy Pelt, Ambrose Akinmusire, and many others. FONT asserts that, “far from an exhaustive survey, these two weeks are but a small sampling from the vast ocean of current practice – how it has changed the world of brass and been changed by it.” FONT Director, Curator and Trumpeter, Dave Douglas says, “the sea change here is in the radical, dangerous proposal for the coexistence of all music, a dismantling of all the institutional barriers erected to preserve the separation of genres and communities. Our mission in brass is to proclaim this all over the city, with a clear tone and a pure sound, as a font of inspiration: that all music is one.”

Trumpet players and fans, this is one festival you don’t want to miss!

Relax, Open Up, and Sing

An important aspect of the art of trumpet playing, is mastering the physical components of the mind and body. Like all wind instruments, especially those in the brass family, trumpet players must be able to control the air stream. It is the energy, power source and life-blood of playing. This is somewhat akin to the art of golfing. While golfing is surely a physical sport, the fluidity and control of the player’s movements are far more important than brute strength. In trumpet playing it is critically important for players to produce the air stream and control it in a way that does not close the throat off. I myself unknowingly suffered from this throat issue for years. Some days I could play brilliantly; many other times horribly. I was very frustrated by this even after it was brought to my attention by a keen observer. While I have finally gained mental control of this negative impediment, I must vigilantly be on guard, because it is a natural physical occurrence within our bodies.

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