Freelance
I love being a freelance trumpet player. There’s nothing better!
Times can get hard and gigs can get sparse but there’s nothing I love more.
My Philosophy
I’ve never wanted to limit my playing life to a single genre nor do I believe that you are either a Classical OR Jazz musician. In my opinion they both have a symbiotic property within a musicians playing. Being classically trained has given me a rock solid technique and given me a disciplined approach to playing whereas my jazz has given me my imagination, feeling and understanding of musical progresses.
My First Year (07-08)
I have been very fortunate in the experiences I’ve had up to this point - See My Biography - and now that my career is underway I can only hope that I’ll get some more. I’ve made it through my first year as a professional freelance trumpeter although I don’t think I’m over the hump yet.My next real test will be to see if I can last a year in London whilst keeping my work going, a roof over my head and my mind. But at least if my I do lose my mind out there it should make for interesting reading in my blog.
Shows
One of my major achievements this year has been the friends made. I met James Newton and then Matt Lokuren through a show I did for LIPA called; My Favorate Year. I knew I’d make a loss through travel but I sought out the show because it was a fun score for trumpet and I thought it would be a good networking opportunity.
Matt is an extremely talented pianist as I’ve seen first hand through my sit in with the Tour of Doctore Dolittle and I hear though students at LIPA; a great MD. As for James Newton; this is one of the soundest musicians I’ve yet to meet. A really good bloke, kit player and a networking machine. (I hope to get a site setup for him at some point as there’s a lot he could teach other young musicians.)
They’ve both inspired me to keep trying to break into the professional show circuit and with a little time, luck and networking I’m sure I can make some progress.
Tours
At Christmas the Eurobusk Tour reminded me music isn’t all work, it’s a hell of a laugh and also how much I miss having my own group. I hope to reform my old jazz group (obviously with new personel) after I move. I hear there are a few good musicians down in London : P .
Studio Recording
I’ve also been in the recording studio a few of times this year and made some great tracks. I’ll be trying to get some more studio work through this. It’s a lot of fun.
Being a professional trumpet player is tough . . . but it’s worth it.
