AL HIRT

tptptp · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

Yeah. Whenever I want to cry, I listen to I Can't Get Started. The power and tone combination is unreal. Goes to F without sounding high-Just beautiful.
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jazz4yvonne · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 1088

One of the first trumpet players that I've heard.

lee1589 · Regular Member Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 13

Al was the first trumpet player who I immediately was in awe of his power and technique. I first heard him on the Pops Goes the Trumpet Album and was a fan from then on. People can say he never played up to his true abilility but given that, he was one of the greatest to ever play the trumpet. His cadenza on the Carnival of Venice, on that album, is one I still like to play at today.

I must chime in on "I Can't Get Started" and agree that I have never heard it played better. He also didn't do a bad job on "The Man With A Horn. "

Al is the King!

Trumpeter58 · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:49 am Post subject:

In fact, during the latter few years before I put my horn away for about two decades, Al Hirt became my trumpet playing idol. I have several of his LP albums and have managed to get a couple of them transferred to CD. I still marvel at the skills he possessed.
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mike ansberry · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

One of the first records I owned was an Al Hirt album on which he played I Can't Get Started. I got it in 1962. It inspired me to play trumpet. What a great sound! I heard him in the 80's at the Muny in St. Louis. He was still pretty good. He held out an F forever with this great big sound and his tux pants fell down around his ankles. He wore boxers.
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Tootsall · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 2952

"Whipped Cream and Other Delights". Still have the LP. No, I didn't buy it for the cover art! (although at the time that would have been enough reason).

Al Hirt is ALSO one of my all-time favourites.

Edit: Senility... the curse of the..... uh..... hmmmm........

crzytptman · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

I think you mean "Herb Al-hirt". . .

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jsou1 · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:03 am Post subject:

I think that both Al Hirt and Herb Alpert had an impact on the number of kids that took up the trumpet in the 60's (myself included). I know I had all of their albums at the time and listened to them around the clock. My parents would always ask me to play Cotton Candy, Fancy Pants, Jada, A Taste of Honey, The Lonely Bull etc. Talk about ear training/Listening & Analysis. It was nice that the trumpet was still considered a primary melody instrument in "mainstream/pop" music. The general public accepted the trumpet back then. Ask the average person (non-musician) today to name a famous trumpet player. If they're older it will be Harry James, Al Hirt, Herb Alpert, maybe Mangione. If they're younger (under 30)..maybe Botti. But I digress...back to Al:

An incredible player with amazing technique and power. He could also really play a pop ballad. Listen to his version of Stardust (Cotton Candy album?). I listened and transcribed that note for note (by ear) when I was around 12. I still use some of his licks from that tune today.

Al (the King) Hirt
Long Live the King!!
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iambrassman · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

bilboinsa · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: AL HIRT

vic · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: Jumbo

I have some fond memories of Al Hirt. Having grown up in the 60's and 70's, I can remember hearing Al Hirt on the radio. We even played one or two of his songs as stand music at football games- "Java" ; "Cotton Candy". That was some fun stuff.

Last week my son [16 years old] asked me what kind of songs we played in the stands. It's too bad that we don't currently have fun instrumentals [ pop music] for kids to play, even if they are not trumpet songs.

One major highlight for me was seeing Al Hirt in concert in about 1967 or '68. I was 12 or 13 years old then and this was my first big-time concert!

It was really a gas to hear a guy like that, especially at a young impressionable age.

I am still surprised at what happened there: During intermission we were milling around the stage area at the college auditorium. I went around the side to find Al Hirt's trumpet on a table in a little off-stage room! I walked right in and pushed down the valves of the horn [I think LeBlanc].

Some nerve, huh? Our band director was not there to chew me out, which would have been appropriate.

I did get Al Hirt's autograph, but that ticket is long gone.

bilboinsa · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:05 am Post subject:

Mobley--Thanks for this post. Made me get out Pops and The Greatest Horn and play them both this morning--great way to start the day!

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JoshMizruchi · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:

Al Hirt is one of my favorite all-around trumpet players. The guy could do just about anything...multiple tonguing of course, great big bright sound, great rhythmic feel, range...He had pretty much everything.

Dave Mickley · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject:

I remember an intervue he did in the mid 60's and he said he was an entertainer not a musician, boy was he ever wrong. He was probably one of the most humble "greats" that ever was. He wasn't known as a "high" player, a jazz player, or anything special but he could do it all { he could scream with the best of them, take rides others only thought about,play sweeter than just about anyone]. I made a statement on this forum a few months ago and was taken wrong [it was my fault, I did not write what I meant], if I could only listen to on musician the rest of my life it would be Al. No matter what the program called for the man could do it well. Al, some day I hope to play in a band with you in the sky. Dave
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DaveH · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Nov 2001 Posts: 3861

Odneal's Inferno · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject:

Al Hirt-One of the best-did things others could just wish they could, and a great cat! So smooth!
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Don Lee · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject:

Jazz-Player-Collector had recommended a video called "Sarah Vaughan & Friends/ "Sass & Brass". I couldn't find a CD, but tracked down a old VHS tape on Amazon.

Shot in 1986 in a small club, it features Herbie Hancock, Maynard Ferguson, Al Hirt, Dizzy Gillespie, a young Chuck Mangione and Don Cherry all on stage together!

What was most interesting was to watch the interaction between all these great players. A lot of mutual respect. While Maynard seemed lead the show a bit, Jumbo had the respect of everyone. Nobody came close to his mastery of the horn.

Fabulous video and a great piece of music history.

Don

jazz_trpt · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:01 am Post subject:

badebop · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:09 am Post subject:

For the life of me I can't understand why his Audio Fidelity recordings "At Dan's Pier 600" have not been reissued on CD. Great Dixie!

MartyH · Regular Member Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 21

I think it's funny how people can express their dislike for an artist's ability and talent as if they, (the artist), did something horribly wrong by playing what they played the way they played it.

Al Hirt was simply incredible. His playing proves nothing succeeds like success.

Those that would be overly critical. I ask, "Have a lot of Gold records, yourself, do you?"
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