Interview with Al Hirt

Ronnman · Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:16 pm Post subject: Interview with Al Hirt

See link to a newly posted YouTube video of an interview with Al Hirt. I learned a few things regarding his interactions with other musicians and his sales technique on pest control services.
Ron

https://youtu.be/c6v4v0kIe20

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

I see a youtube like this and I think of the humanity of the man behind the music. How can anyone not love this? Al Hirt brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. He was an awesome player.
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HERMOKIWI

Comeback · Heavyweight Member Joined: 22 Jun 2011 Posts: 1143

Ronnman · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 6:45 am Post subject:

HERMOKIWI - Agreed, I am fascinated by these type stories behind the public front that most see.

Comeback - Your welcome. I am a lifelong resident on the New Orleans metropolitan area, and learned details in this interview that I was unaware of. He was frequently on local stations with interviews, usually 2-3 minute in length, but none contained this level of detail from his mouth.

Ron

some_blue · Regular Member Joined: 17 Feb 2019 Posts: 42

Great stuff. Thanks for posting!

GeorgeB · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:25 am Post subject:

Thanks or that video, Ron. Al has been a favorite of mine for many years and I was heartbroken when he passed away much to early. While attending a newspaper convention in New Orleans many moons ago, I met him one evening at his club on Bourbon street ( Pete Fountain was also there ) and I can say for certain that he was a true gentleman. I will always remember and cherish the little conversation we had.
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GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet

Ronnman · Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2019 2:13 pm Post subject:

some_blue & GeorgeB - you’re welcome.

I always liked Al’s style and interpretations of melodies. I keep an eye out for new (to me) videos/ songs and will post them if not repeats.
Ron

cgaiii · Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:21 pm Post subject:

Fine interview. Brings out the man behind the horn.
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Ronnman · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 2:53 pm Post subject:

Anyone know what brand/model trumpet Al is playing in this video? I can’t make it out.
Ron

tptptp · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 6:52 pm Post subject:

Did I hear correctly at 21:00? Did he say he had a PhD? I did not know that.
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Ronnman · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:34 pm Post subject:

Tptptp - His doctorate was honorary (1968] per a link for the University of Cincinnati below. I though it might be since in the interview he was razzing Severinsen about the “Doc” title.
Ron

https://magazine.uc.edu/issues/0799/alhirt.html

GeorgeB · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:27 am Post subject:

tptptp · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 5:03 am Post subject:

Ronnman · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 6:29 am Post subject:

Ronnman · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 6:39 am Post subject:

cgaiii · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 8:05 am Post subject:

deleted_user_02066fd · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

Great interview. I heard Al live when I was about 15 at Oakdale Theater in Wallingford Ct. It was a covered outdoor theater in the round and there was an outdoor covered walkway where the performers walked to an from the stage.
I decided to run out when Al and the band finished the first set. When Al walked by I called out to him. My voice was beginning to change and I sometimes sounded like Alfalfa from The Little Rascals and it sounded really funny when it cracked when I called out his name. He looked at me, walked over stuck out his hand and said hey how ya doin? His hands were enormous! The only person I've ever met with bigger hands is basketball Hall Of Famer Bob Lanier.
I never forgot how cool a guy he was.

tptptp · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 12:08 pm Post subject:

Lots of talent and hard work for sure. It’s not all just out of his imagination. I hear plenty of scales and Arban gruppetto exercises in his improvisation. Or you could say some of his favorite licks recall his early days of hard work in his Arban.

The op link at 17:58 and 18:41, and in this beautiful piece at 00:48:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ctNU-Wm51EA
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Craig Mitchell

cgaiii · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 12:45 pm Post subject:

tptptp,
Nice observation as to how all that practice fits in to the improv.
_________________
Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales

Ronnman · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:28 pm Post subject: