Bone2Pick Interviews

You want to play Salsa . . . LISTEN TO THE CONGA!

Playing with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is definitely one of the highlights of my life.

In those days, the only people listed on the album were the rhythm section guys. For a year or more (after recording the flugelhorn solo on Paul McCartney’s Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey), I was the most famous unknown trumpet player in the world.

When the band was playing, Thad was happy. He made the music. The music came out of him.

You studied music, I studied the history of interesting releases for lead trumpet players.

When Tony Bennett and I (John Bunch) heard you warming up, we thought we had made the biggest mistake of our lives!

Musically, playing with Frank Sinatra might still be the highlight of my life.

After Woody’s band, I moved to Hawaii and that’s when I first met Jerry Hey. That’s when Jerry used to work for me . . .  for a lot less money, I might add.

I’ve played my 46th score for John Williams as first trumpet. Most recent was the last Indiana Jones movie. The first was The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing in 1973 with Burt Reynolds.

We have that saying that studio/orchestra work is 95 percent boredom and 5 percent sheer terror for brass players.

I gave my notice to Buddy and he said to me, ‘Kid . . . I’ll make sure you never work another day in your life.’ I made more money that first night in Vegas than I did for a week on Buddy’s band.

Playing with Gary and Chuck was like wearing a favorite pair of old shoes—things were just right.