If you want to play small group you better start playing in a big band.
At one point, I wanted to be a professional trombone player. Then I realized if I wanted to be a successful trombone player I’d have to be like one of the 10 best in the world and if I wanted to be a successful businessman I just had to be good.
I got to Symphony Hall early to fulfill my orchestral fantasy and played Mahler 3 on my King 2B . . . probably gives you guys the heebie-jeebies just thinking about that.
When I go to work, I feel like wow . . . I’m going to work in the New York Philharmonic! I still can’t believe it.
I did 15 albums with Henry Mancini and always had something beautiful to play. He was a monumental gift to the world.
The LSO was a worker's co-operative, just like the original Berlin Philharmonic; we employed ourselves and we had a fantastic ethos of working together to improve standards and success
