The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trailblazing lead trumpeter Liesl Whitaker, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Liesl Whitaker trumpet interview"

About Liesl Whitaker:

Liesl Whitaker is an American lead and commercial trumpeter based in the New York City metropolitan area.

She currently plays lead trumpet in the pit orchestra of the hit Broadway musical Death Becomes Her (2024). Her other lead trumpet Broadway credits include Mr. Saturday Night - starring Billy Crystal (2022); Some Like it Hot (2023) and Suffs (2024). Off Broadway credits include Tappin' Thru Life – starring Maurice Hines (2016).

Liesl is a twenty-one year veteran of the United States Army: In 2000, she won a national audition and became the first female lead trumpet player to be selected by any premier military unit when she won the lead chair with the US Army Blues.

In 2012, she repeated this feat when she won the lead chair in the US Army Jazz Ambassadors, a second premier unit - something not done by anyone (male or female), prior or since. Liesl deployed twice with the Sergeant Major of the Army and the Third Army to Afghanistan and Iraq (2002; 2004).

Additionally, Liesl was the lead trumpet player for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra in Washington, D.C. (2004 – 2022). She is a charter member of the all-woman big band The Diva Jazz Orchestra (1993 – present) based in New York City.

Liesl attended college at both Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) and The University of Cincinnati—College Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH). She studied trumpet with Bill Adam, Pat Harbison and Joe Phelps.

In 2004 and 2005, Liesl performed with the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, recording with the ensemble and Conductor/Chief Arranger Michael Abene and guest artist Joe Lovano.

Additionally, she has performed on various recordings including projects by the Army Blues and Jazz Ambassadors, Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Victor Goines Big Band, Ed Palermo Big Band, various original Broadway cast recordings, as well as many others.

Liesl currently resides in upstate, New York with her husband, Kenny Rampton, and her daughter, Lauren. When not performing or touring, she spends her free time honing her skills as an amateur writer.

Episode Links:

• Blog: lieslwhitaker.wordpress.com
• Liesl Whitaker on Instagram (@lieslwhitaker)
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Art - courtesy of Liesl Whitaker
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer, teacher and internet sensation Eric Baker, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Eric Baker trumpet interview"

About Eric Baker:

Eric Baker grew up in Ft. Worth, TX, and began playing the trumpet at age 11. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of Texas at Arlington and earned his master's degree in Trumpet Performance from Arizona State University.

Mr. Baker moved to Odessa, TX in 2006 to begin his tenure as Co-Principal trumpet with the West Texas Symphony. He has also performed with the Big Spring Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, the Legend Brass Quintet, the West Texas Trumpet Workshop, and the Salt River Brass Band.

Eric performs regularly with the Lone Star Brass Quintet, Current Nine, The Pinstripes Jazz Quartet, and Emily & the Rhumba Kings. He performed with the touring production of the hit Broadway musical Chicago and has performed on stage with The Temptations, The Four Tops, Mannheim Steamroller, and Marie Osmond.

He freelances all over West Texas and is a highly sought-after performer and private teacher. He is a founding member of the "Lone Star State" chapter of the International Trumpet Guild. He is the Director of Community Engagement for Music and Visual Arts at The University of Texas Permian Basin. He also serves as President of the West Texas Jazz Society.

Eric's wife, Emily, is the director of the Voices of the Permian Basin. They have three daughters, Piper, Keller, and Harper.

Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our Gard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• Website: West Texas Symphony
• Trumpets Mic'd Up on Instagram (@ebtrumpet)
• Trumpets Mic'd Up on TikTok (@eb_trumpet)
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Art - courtesy of Eric Baker
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring a live panel discussion on the legacy of William Adam and AdamFest, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "AdamFest 2025 Panel Discussion"

About the William Adam Trumpet Festival (AdamFest):

The 11th Annual William Adam International Trumpet Festival will take place June 19–22, 2025, at Austin Peay State University, hosted by Dr. Rob Waugh. This year's festival brings together a distinguished roster of William Adam's former students—many of whom are among today's leading trumpet artists—for four days of inspiration, performance, and pedagogy.

In the spirit of Mr. Adam's legacy, the festival offers a rich mix of masterclasses, performances, complimentary private and group lessons, and targeted seminars on topics such as jazz improvisation, orchestral playing, trumpet fundamentals, and effective teaching. Special programming is available for younger students and their educators.

William Adam taught trumpet at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music from 1946 to 1988 and continued teaching privately until his passing in 2013. Widely regarded as one of the most influential trumpet pedagogues of the 20th century, his teaching emphasized sound, simplicity, and personal connection. The annual festival ensures his philosophy continues to inspire new generations of trumpet players.

About Our Panelists:

Bobby Burns Jr. is a longtime member of Earth, Wind & Fire and a veteran of the Los Angeles music scene. After studying with the legendary Bill Adam at Indiana University—where he overcame early challenges to earn a degree in trumpet performance—Bobby moved to L.A., balancing day jobs with gigs until establishing a full-time music career. His versatile résumé spans symphonic, studio, and touring work, with credits including The Temptations, Tony Bennett, Dr. Dre, and Broadway productions like Evita and A Chorus Line. Since joining Earth, Wind & Fire in 2004, he has performed on major stages around the world, from the White House to the Grammys. Bobby is also an active educator, passionate about mentoring the next generation of musicians.

Charley Davis is a versatile trumpeter, respected educator, and innovative designer with a career spanning over three decades. A fixture in the Los Angeles studio scene, Charley has performed with legends like Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Buddy Rich, and Placido Domingo, and his credits range from motion pictures and Broadway shows to big bands and Las Vegas stages. He currently teaches at Cal State Long Beach, Citrus College, and the Henry Mancini Institute, where he's known for his deep diagnostic insight and mentorship. Charley is also the founder of Charles Davis Music Products, producing a signature line of trumpets and mutes that reflect his commitment to excellence in both sound and craftsmanship.

Robert Slack is a seasoned trumpeter, educator, and recording artist with a master's degree in trumpet performance from Indiana University, where he studied under the legendary William Adam. His diverse career has included everything from orchestras and brass ensembles to touring with Buddy Rich and Paul Anka, and performing in Las Vegas showrooms with stars like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. Now based in Los Angeles, Robert has built an extensive studio career with credits spanning film, television, and commercial work. He currently serves as trumpet professor at Azusa Pacific University, where he's been on faculty for over 18 years.

Larry Hall is one of Los Angeles' top session trumpet players, known for his versatility across virtually every musical style. A former student of William Adam at Indiana University, Larry has built a prolific recording career with credits spanning film, television, and albums for artists including Elton John, The Jacksons, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Placido Domingo. His ability to adapt his sound to any musical context has made him a first-call player in the L.A. studio scene.

Dr. Karl Sievers is a distinguished performer and educator whose career spans orchestral, jazz, and commercial music. A former student of William Adam, he holds a DMA in trumpet performance and recently retired as a Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma. Now in his 24th season as principal trumpet of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Karl is equally at home playing lead in jazz and Broadway settings. When he's not performing, he enjoys fitness, motorcycles, fishing, and time with family.

Gino Muñoz is a versatile musician, educator, and entrepreneur with over two decades of professional performance experience, including work with Michael Bublé and Gwen Stefani. A proud alumnus and now full-time faculty member at Citrus College, Gino has played a key role in shaping the school's acclaimed Instrumental Music program. He is the past Academic Senate President, produces live shows for venues like SeaWorld and Legoland, and is a partner at 37 St Joseph Studios, a professional recording facility in Arcadia.

Anthony "Tony" Bonsera Jr. is a dynamic trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator whose career spans jazz, big band, rock, and fusion. He has played lead or split lead trumpet with groups like The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and the Bill Holman Big Band, and is a longtime faculty member at Citrus College. As a bandleader and recording artist, Tony's projects—such as his original album The Gates of Hell and the genre-blending Los Angeles Classic Rock Orchestra—showcase his creative range. His latest work, L.A.'s Finest, is an ambitious double album featuring top musicians from across the country. A Philly native, Tony still finds time for family, friends, and the occasional cheesesteak.

Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our Gard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• WilliamAdamTrumpet.com

• Bill Adam Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/603106766409745/

• Charley Davis Book - A Tribute to William Adam

  Print Version - https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/tribute-to-william-adam-method-book-his-teachings-his-routine-by-charley-davis

  PDF Version - https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/digital-copy-tribute-to-william-adam-method-book-his-teachings-his-routine-by-charley-davis

• William Adam Brass Choir Arrangements - https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/collections/william-adam-brass-choir-arrangements

• International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Art - courtesy of John Snell
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet legend and women's trumpet trailblazer Marie Speziale, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Marie Speziale trumpet interview"

*Note to listeners and viewers: we're rebalancing our podcast release schedule, to alternate The Other Side of the Bell with our other two podcasts: Trombone Corner and The Horn Signal. Hence the back-to-back episode of TOSOTB this week! If you haven't already, check out our other two shows for more fantastic interviews with horn-playing legends! Trombone Corner The Horn Signal About Marie Speziale: Acknowledged as the first woman trumpeter in a major symphony orchestra, Marie Speziale retired from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1996 after having served as Associate Principal Trumpet for thirty-two years (1964-1996). A graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati (CCM), Ms. Speziale studied with Robert Price, Eugene Blee and Arnold Jacobs. Her tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) included playing with the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras. She performed under the batons of Igor Stravinsky, George Szell, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Eugene Ormandy, Eric Leinsdorf, Max Rudolf and so many more. In addition to solo appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Pops and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestras, she was featured on NBC's Today Show at age 15, in an impromptu jam session with Duke Ellington shortly after joining the orchestra, and with Dave Brubeck on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, the CSO European tour, and at the Interlochen Arts Academy. While a student at CCM, she recorded sound tracks for James Brown, whose career was launched by the historic King Records in Cincinnati. Marie served on the CCM faculty, 1964 -1973, on the faculty at Miami University of Ohio, 1973 - 1979, and returned to CCM as Adjunct Associate Professor, 1979 - 2002. She was appointed Professor of Music at Indiana University 1999, serving there until a year after her 2001 appointment as Professor of Trumpet and Brass Department Chair at the prestigious Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. In 1999, Marie was one of six Americans (and the only American woman) to be invited by the Tokyo International Music Festival to perform in its first Super World Orchestra. In addition to the National Trumpet Competitions, she has served as adjudicator for the ITG, IWBC and the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music competitions. In 1996, Ms. Speziale performed with the Monarch Brass on its inaugural tour. She conducted the Monarch Brass at the 1997 and 2014 conferences, and played, toured and recorded with Monarch Brass Quintet and Monarch Brass Ensemble until retiring from playing. President of IWBC, 1997 - 2001, Marie hosted the 2000 conference at CCM and served on the Board of Directors. Ms. Speziale has won many awards and honors, including Leading Women in the Arts Award from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition of Women's Organizations, the Outstanding Woman of the Year in Music Award from the Tampa Tribune, the SAI Chapter, Province and National Leadership Awards, the Pioneer Award from the International Women's Brass Conference, the Golden Rose Award from the Women Band Directors International, the Woman of Excellence Award from the Italian Club of Tampa, the Distinguished Alumna Award from CCM and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati. In 2018, Marie was inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame as part of their recognition of the Symphony Jazz Quintet, of which she was a founding member. She was presented with the prestigious Honorary Award from the International Trumpet Guild at their 2018 conference. In 2019, Ms. Speziale was one of 100 women recognized by Cincinnati Arts Wave in their Celebration of Women in the Arts: Power of Her. Marie Speziale retired as Professor Emerita from Rice University in 2013. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and the Emeritus Board of the IWBC. Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our Gard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• International Women's Brass Conference, May 19-24, Hartford, Connecticut. Register: myiwbc.org Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/iwbc
• International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Art - courtesy of Marie Speziale
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring women's trumpet trailblazer, founder of the International Women's Brass Conference, and 40-year First Trumpet of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Susan Slaughter, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Susan Slaughter trumpet interview"

About Susan Slaughter: Born in McCordsville, IN, Susan Slaughter started playing trumpet at the age of 10. Graduating from Indiana University with a coveted performer's certificate, Susan auditioned for and won the Principal Trumpet position in 1967 with the Toledo, Ohio Symphony. Susan then joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in l969 and four years later became the first woman ever to be named Principal Trumpet of a major symphony orchestra. In 1992, Susan founded the International Women's Brass Conference, an organization dedicated to provide opportunities and recognition for women brass musicians. As a fund-raising effort to support the International Women's Brass Conference, Ms. Slaughter organized and produced the very popular Holiday Brass Concerts, which are now in their second decade, and are performed each December in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Other cities in the United States are holding their own Holiday Brass Concerts to help support the ever-growing International Women's Brass Conference. In 1996, Ms. Slaughter founded Monarch Brass, an all women's brass ensemble, which has toured in the United States and Europe to critical acclaim. Susan appears regularly in area recitals and religious programs, and has been a frequent soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, as well as with several other ensembles throughout the country. Her work is represented on a number of Saint Louis Symphony releases, including the highly acclaimed recordings of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5, Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Barber's Capricorn Concerto, and most recently, John Adams' Doctor Atomic. Many of these and other recordings have been nominated for or won Grammy Awards. Susan has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Kathleen Battle, Christine Brewer, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt in duets, amongst others. She has served on the faculty of the Grand Teton Orchestra Seminar and the National Orchestra Institute, and has been lecture/recitalist at the International Trumpet Guild, while also serving on its board of directors. Since the 1980's, Susan has performed the National Anthem and "God Bless America" on an annual basis for the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Club and, at the invitation of the Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent, performed the National Anthem at Game 3 of the 1991 World Series, played in Atlanta between the Braves and Twins (link). Some of the awards and recognition Susan has received over the years include nomination by Ladies Home Journal for its annual Woman of the Year award, a special Leadership Award in the Arts from the Young Women's Christian Association, the American Federation of Musicians, Local 2-197 Owen Miller Award for loyalty, dedication and fairness in actions and deeds, and the 2007 Arts and Education Council Award for Excellence in the Arts. Susan has studied over the years with Herbert Mueller, Bernard Adelstein, Arnold Jacobs, Robert Nagel, Claude Gordon and Laurie Frink, and retired as Principal Trumpet from the Saint Louis Symphony on September 1, 2010. Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our Gard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• Holiday Brass
• Los Angeles Brass Alliance website https://www.instagram.com/losangelesbrassalliance/
• International Women's Brass Conference, May 19-24, Hartford, Connecticut. Register: myiwbc.org Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/iwbc
• International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam
• Greg Wing, Reflections on a Grateful Journey, available on Apple Music

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Art - Susan Slaughter
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet soloist, chamber musician, educator, and life coach Ashley Hall-Tighe, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Ashley Hall-Tighe trumpet interview"

About Ashley Hall-Tighe: Ashley Hall-Tighe is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, chamber musician, educator, and life coach and her passion for authentic human connection drives every facet of her career. As a soloist, Ashley has been praised for her "energetic joy" (Rochester Post Bulletin) and her "warm tone, stunning technique and expressive artistry" (Cincinnati Enquirer). In 2024-2025, she performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the United States. She has been the principal trumpet of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra since 2008 and from August 2023 - May 2024, Ashley was a touring member of the world-renowned Canadian Brass. Ashley released her debut classical solo album with pianist Ana Maria Otamendi, Upcycle, in the fall of 2024 on Rezurrection Records. This collection of transcriptions for trumpet and piano created by Nathaniel Tighe offers a vision of what might have been possible if the modern trumpet was a solo instrument at the time these works were conceived. As an educator, Ashley combines her passion for whole-person development with a methodical approach to improvement. She is on the trumpet faculty at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is a sought-after clinician at music schools around the globe. As a credentialed life coach, Ashley is passionate about helping individuals unlock their potential, build mental resilience and align their creative lives with their values. To learn more about Ashley, visit www.ashleyhalltighe.com, or follow her on Instagram @ashleyhalltighe to see frequent updates from her life both on the road and at her log cabin home with her husband and two amazing children. Ashley is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses GR mouthpieces. Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our Gard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• ashleyhalltighe.com
• Latest album, Upcycle, on Maple Rise Music: https://maplerisemusic.com/upcycle
• Los Angeles Brass Alliance https://www.instagram.com/losangelesbrassalliance/
• International Women's Brass Conference, May 19-24, Hartford, Connecticut. Register: myiwbc.org Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/iwbc
• International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" – composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host – John Snell
• Audio Engineer – Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, band leader and iconic plunger mute designer Kenny Rampton, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Kenny Rampton trumpet interview"

About Kenny Rampton: Trumpeter Kenny Rampton grew up in Las Vegas, and studied music at both the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and the Berklee College of Music. In 1989, he moved to New York, where he quickly established his reputation as a versatile musician, touring and performing with a veritable who's who in jazz. Kenny's first road gig was a world tour with The Ray Charles Orchestra. He subsequently went on the road with legendary jazz drummer Panama Francis and The Savoy Sultans, and soon thereafter, with The Jimmy McGriff Quartet. As a sideman, Kenny has also performed with jazz greats Jon Hendricks, Chico OFarrill's Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Persip and Supersound, Illinois Jacquet, Dr. John, Edy Martinez, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson, Charles Earland, Tony Monaco, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Marcus Roberts, Christian McBride, Geoff Keezer, Richard Bona and a host of others. Kenny Rampton joined the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis as a full time member in 2010. He also leads his own groups in addition to performing with the Mingus Big Band, The Mingus Orchestra, The Mingus Dynasty, George Gruntz' Concert Jazz Band, and The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra. Kenny is also well known as being the trumpet voice on the legendary Sesame Street. Some of his Broadway credits include "Anything Goes" (lead/solo trumpet), "Finian's Rainbow," "The Wiz," "Chicago: The Musical," "In The Heights," "Hair," "Young Frankenstein," and "The Producers," "The Drowsy Chaperone," "Spamalot," "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me," "The Wedding Singer," "Hot Feet" and several other shows on Broadway. Finally, in 2020 Kenny started collaborating with Hirschman Mutes to design the innovative KR Indigo plunger mute, which has been a hit ever since its release. In our conversation today, Kenny shares how he got his start growing up in Las Vegas in a family of entertainers. Studying trumpet at the time largely meant classical trumpet, but Kenny soon developed a deep love for jazz. This took him across the country to Berklee, and the rest is history. Kenny tells us what it was like getting a sudden call from Ray Charles to join his orchestra, being on-screen on Sesame Street, and working closely with Wynton Marsalis at the Lincoln Center. And, we learn the story of how he developed the famous KR Indigo plunger mute, in the midst of the pandemic, as not just a useful tool for musicians but a way to stay engaged with the community during that tough time. Kenny Rampton is brimming with inspiration and heart, and it was a pleasure to have him on the podcast today. Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our guard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info. Episode Links:

• kennyrampton.com
• National Trumpet Competition YouTube channel
• International Women's Brass Conference, May 19-24, Hartford, Connecticut. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/iwbc
• International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg
• William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam
• hirschmanmutes.com

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" – composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host – John Snell
• Audio Engineer – Ted Cragg
• Cover art photo credit: Blushing Cactus Photography

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, recording artist and co-founder of the bank Chicago, Lee Loughnane, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Lee Loughnane of Chicago Trumpet Interview"

About Lee Loughnane: Lee Loughnane of the band Chicago joins host John Snell today to talk about discovering the trumpet and committing to a career in music, the groundbreaking idea of putting horns front and center in a rock and roll band, and stories of writing and recording some of those famous and iconic trumpet parts! Lee Loughnane was eleven when his father asked him if he wanted to play an instrument. His dad had played trumpet when he was a kid, all the way through his time in the Army Air Force, but the horn was now up in the attic. Fortunately, that meant Lee already had a great instrument: a Bach Stradivarius. Lee's dad took him to meet the band director at St. Celestine grade school in Elmwood Park, Ralph Meltzer, who said "show me your teeth." He wanted to make sure they were straight so the mouthpiece wouldn't tear up the inside of Lee's lip. Lee passed the visual audition and became a trumpet player that day. Lee met Walt Parazaider at Depaul University; Walt was playing in a band called The Missing Links and invited Lee to come sit in with them. Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine were also in the band. When they broke up, Walt wanted to form a horn band, which was initially going to be a Las Vegas show band, but turned out to be Chicago. Once they got signed to a record deal with Columbia Records, the group went to New York and recorded the Chicago Transit Authority album at the 42nd Street studio. Having never recorded before, it was very intimidating standing in front of a Neumann mic. These mics pick up every aspect of your playing, so there's a learning curve until you figure out how to relax and blend with the band. The group learned more and more about the recording process through the years and as the technology developed, they developed along with it. Chicago continue to tour the world every year, including with original members Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Robert Lamm. Lee has put together a traveling studio in order to record on the road, with much less overhead. The late great Phil Ramone advised them to, "Get a great mic and a great preamp." You can't start with mediocre stuff and make it great later. It's got to be the best sound right off the bat, then you can enhance the sound even more in mixing and mastering. Lee and audio engineer Tim Jessup convinced the rest of the band that the studio was going to be good enough quality to make a record with, and they recorded a version of "Dialogue", on the bus, one instrument at a time and then mixed. Everybody was so pleased with the final product that Chicago XXXVl was recorded over 2013-14 without going into a studio. Chicago have kept very busy throughout their career, and it's not slowing down. In fact, they're busier than any of them could have ever imagined they'd be. As Lee says, "I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing." What a pleasure to be joined in this episode by rock icon and horn legend Lee Loughnane, someone who helped pioneer an entire genre of music and gave horns exposure to a whole new audience. Episode Links:

Official Website for the band Chicago

Cover art photo credit: Blushing Cactus Photography

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" – composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host – John Snell
• Audio Engineer – Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, educator and recording artist Clay Jenkins, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Clay Jenkins Trumpet Interview"

About Clay Jenkins:

Clay Jenkins is a renowned jazz trumpeter and educator whose dynamic career spans decades of performance and teaching. He launched his performing journey with the Stan Kenton Orchestra before moving to Los Angeles, where he toured and recorded with the big bands of Buddy Rich and the Count Basie Orchestra.

A charter member of the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Clay has amassed over 100 recording credits, released seven solo albums, and recorded as a co-leader with many other notable names. Since joining the Eastman School of Music faculty, in Rochester, NY, in 2000, Clay has continued to perform worldwide, while mentoring the next generation of jazz musicians.

Inspired by his close friendship with the late trumpet legend Eugene "Snooky" Young, he established the Snooky Young Endowed Scholarship at Eastman, and is currently writing a biography of Young's life.

Clay is wonderfully warm, down-to-earth and humble. If you listened to our last episode featuring Emile Martinez, you'll know that Clay was instrumental in guiding Emile on his artistic journey, and so how appropriate it is that we can follow up on that interview with this one today.

And he's a lifelong practicer. Clay is always trying to improve, and it's inspiring to hear someone at his level still talking about what they go through every day, trying to better themselves.

Episode Links:

"Hope Beats" - YouTube series with Clay Jenkins (trumpet), John Clayton (bass), Larry Koonse (guitar), Gene Bertoncini (guitar), Joe La Barbera (drums)

Quasimodo, by Charlie Parker

Grizzly, by John Clayton

Podcast Credits:

• "A Room with a View" – composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Audio Engineer – Ted Cragg
• Cover Art – Phil Jordan
• Podcast Host – John Snell

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter Emile Martinez, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Visit Bob Reeves Brass at TMEA 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 13-15! We'll have over 350 trumpet mouthpieces, mutes, cases, Shires trumpets, and valve alignments. For more information and to sign up for a valve alignment go to https://bobreeves.com/blog/tmea2025/. About Emile:

Emile Martinez, a Los Angeles native and two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, and educator, embodies a multifaceted musical journey that transcends genre boundaries. Graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts and recognized as a presidential scholar at Berklee College of Music, Martinez's passion for the trumpet ignited at the tender age of ten.

Under the tutelage of esteemed mentors such as Oscar Brashear, Clay Jenkins, Ed Carroll, Josef Leimberg, Van Hunt, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Rasheed Ali, Sal Cracchiolo, PhD. James Ford, PhD. Derrick Finch, Lee Secard, and Wadada Leo Smith, Martinez's artistic evolution was profoundly shaped, fueling not only his musical prowess but also his commitment to mentorship and education, fostering creative pathways for future generations.

While often associated with jazz, Martinez's artistic palette is expansive, drawing inspiration from an eclectic array of genres including Hip-Hop, R&B, Neo Soul, Classical, and Soul Electronica. His collaborations with luminaries such as Anderson Paak, S.I.R., Iman Omari, Shafiq Husayn, Big Sean, Rasheed Ali and Ed Sheeran underscore his versatility and musical adaptability.

Having graced prestigious stages from the Lincoln Center to the Playboy Jazz Festival during his early years as a trumpeter, Martinez's performances captivate audiences with their dynamic fusion of styles and infectious energy. His recent venture into production showcases a deep reverence for cultural icons such as, J-Dilla, Quincy Jones, Shafiq Husayn, Josef Leimberg, Rasheed Ali, 9th Wonder, and Madlib.

As he prepares to unveil his debut album, "Lamad," Martinez showcases his work not only as a trumpeter and improviser but as a composer, producer, and arranger. Martinez embarks on a new chapter with his ensemble, "The Education," comprising a collective of exceptionally talented young artists from across Los Angeles. Through "Lamad," Martinez invites listeners on a sonic odyssey, where each track intricately weaves a narrative that transcends musical boundaries, reflecting his unwavering commitment to artistic exploration and innovation.