Any trumpeter will kindly give you some of his favorite trumpet players. He might even tell you that they are the best of all time. Many are assuredly deserving of some of this esteem whereas some are so underrated or rather under appreciated that they may go by without any favoritism by the majority of trumpet connoisseurs. Now enter Harry James, one of the best big trumpeters of his time and quite possibly, one of the better innovators of the trumpet of all time.
He was known for this ostentatious, bombastic style of playing. Using techniques that some of the best trumpeters only wish they could do. He was playing Concerto for a Trumpet during a time where trumpet, jazz and smoke filled speakeasies were king--where you dressed up in a suit to go out at night.
He was a face of elegance where the music would pop and radiate any room he played in. He dubbed many movies as well as playing himself in many films, actually performing his sets live. In some of these movies you can see the other musicians looking incredulously at this virtuoso as he improvised his way through a scene.
There was not another that could play with such presence, speed, charisma, and poignancy as Harry James save possibly Rafael Mendez. Give him a listen, he might just make an appearance on your list of favorite trumpet players.
- Sean Marrone
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