Clifford Brown's horn

elbobogrande · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 5:51 pm Post subject:

Just to satisfy purely trivial curiousity, what kind of horn(s) was Clifford Brown known to play?
Thanks,
John

PatchesTheCat · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 5:55 pm Post subject:

Blessing Super Artist (sure of this) and we think an Olds Ambassador. Donald Byrd owns one of these.

EBjazz · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 7:14 pm Post subject:

I played with Clifford last year and he had an Olds Recording.
That would be Cliff Brown III. He can play man, but he ain't real serious. Shew gave him the horn when he was six.
The resemblence is like Twilight Zone man.

Eb
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Eric Bolvin
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MaynardProdigy · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:47 am Post subject:

Check out this link. I think it may help.

http://abel.hive.no/trompet/player-horn.html

_________________

Custom Bach Stad 43
81' MF ST-302
631 Yamaha Flugel
***Working on***
Yamaha Xeno
Martin Committee
Olds Super (LA)

[ This Message was edited by: MaynardProdigy on 2004-01-23 17:54 ]

musiclifeline · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:01 am Post subject:

There are lots of errors on that page... If I get time this weekend, perhaps I'll send updates/corrections to Ole...

jazz_trpt · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:20 am Post subject:

There may be errors there, but Brownie definitely played a Blessing Super Artist. I have a vnitage model w/o engraving (the Blessing Artist) -- easy to spot in pictures because the horn is built with the third valve slide ring on the underside of the slide.

Mine's in medium-grade condition, but suffice it to say I don't sound anything like Brownie when I play it. (Or anything else.)
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Jeff Helgesen
Free jazz solo transcriptions!

jhatpro · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:45 am Post subject:

Ironically, Clifford was on his way to Elkhart to pick up a new horn when he was killed.
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Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

musiclifeline · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:04 pm Post subject:

Yep, but I'm pretty sure he didn't play a 10 1/2 C...

bachstrad72 · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:40 pm Post subject:

You are right, he played a 17C

jazz_trpt · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 1:09 pm Post subject:

Why not a 10 1/2C? I'm almost positive that the best photos show him playing a Bach blank of some sort, and that size was quite common for jazz players at that time.

Just curious. I suppose his kid's probably got an inside track on that information.
_________________
Jeff Helgesen
Free jazz solo transcriptions!

adieste · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 3:13 pm Post subject:

Speaking of which, did you all see the movie with Jeff Goldblum and Forrest Whitaker, all about a dying trumpet player's wish for Clifford's horn? I don't recall the name of the film.
_________________
Trumpet: 1975 Benge CG, 1964 Martin Committee
Flugelhorn: 1963 and 1973 Olds L-12
Cornet: 1895 Conn Wonder, 1915 Buescher 57C
Pocket Trumpet: Funky No-Name Thing
Alto Sax: 1965 Buescher Aristocrat
Tenor Sax: 1956 Buffet Crampon Paris

adieste · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:49 pm Post subject:

"Lush Life" 1994

Tenor saxophonist Al Gorky and trumpeter Buddy Chester have grown accustomed to their wild lives as bohemian jazz musicians. But Al's unorthodox views on life and his lackadaisical disposition have started to affect more than his marriage; they're also taking a toll on his music. Then Buddy learns he's dying of a brain tumor. Al and Buddy realize they must confront their own mortality as they plan one last special musical session together.

"Lush Life" had its world premiere at the London Film Festival.

The film was presented by Showtime television.

Directorial debut for Michael Elias.

The film was shot in only 20 days, on a $4 million budget.

Jeff Goldblum's sax playing was dubbed by Bob Cooper; Chuck Findley dubbed Forest Whitaker's trumpet; and Sue Raney dubs Kathy Baker's singing.
_________________
Trumpet: 1975 Benge CG, 1964 Martin Committee
Flugelhorn: 1963 and 1973 Olds L-12
Cornet: 1895 Conn Wonder, 1915 Buescher 57C
Pocket Trumpet: Funky No-Name Thing
Alto Sax: 1965 Buescher Aristocrat
Tenor Sax: 1956 Buffet Crampon Paris

crzytptman · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:19 pm Post subject:

I also remember hearing that he played a Bach 17c mpc. I put my daughter on a 18c when she was 3, and she had a pretty fat sound - for a 3yr old! Of course, the '57 Olds Amb cornet helps . . .

Nate

musiclifeline · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:01 pm Post subject:

Wow, I didn't even know they made them that small (18C). In any case, the popular wisdom is that Clifford used a NY (of course) Bach 17C. A tiny piece for a man with such a big sound, but I think it may have helped him play as quietly as he did on some tunes... He could be remarkably subdued when he wanted to.

FlugelFlyer · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:34 pm Post subject:

Clifford used a NY Bach 17C1, the 17C is something different. There was a NY Bach 17C1 and a 17C2, the 17C1 had a wide rim and slightly shallow bowl cup while the 17C2 had the same rim but a very shallow bowl cup. Supposedly, the Bach 10-3/4CW and 10-3/4EW are the same mouthpieces as the old 17C1 and 17C2, but the inconsistencies over the years have led me to doubt that. Anyway, that's what I've heard.
_________________
Trumpet: Bach 180LR, 72 bell
Mouthpiece: Warburton 3XD/KT

MaynardProdigy · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:03 pm Post subject:

adieste,

I tried looking on Amazon.com for Lush Life and didn't find it. Do you or anybody else know where I can find this movie??

Thanks,
Clifford and Maynard Fan

_________________

Custom Bach Stad 43
81' MF ST-302
631 Yamaha Flugel
***Working on***
Yamaha Xeno
Martin Committee
Olds Super (LA)

[ This Message was edited by: MaynardProdigy on 2004-01-23 18:04 ]

adieste · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 3:13 pm Post subject:

I think "Lush Life" was originally an HBO production, but I first discovered the VHS at Blockbuster. Try Netflix.com.

PS: Didn't I hear somewhere that Clifford played a Committee? Also, that he was headed to play a gig in Philadelphia, instead of on his way to Elkhart to buy a horn?

I dunno...it's certainly not important, but I'm just curious.
_________________
Trumpet: 1975 Benge CG, 1964 Martin Committee
Flugelhorn: 1963 and 1973 Olds L-12
Cornet: 1895 Conn Wonder, 1915 Buescher 57C
Pocket Trumpet: Funky No-Name Thing
Alto Sax: 1965 Buescher Aristocrat
Tenor Sax: 1956 Buffet Crampon Paris

jazz_trpt · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:08 am Post subject:

From the Clifford Brown bio:

"...Brownie bid farewell to his family, took his luggage into his Buick, and drove to Philadelphia. The plan had been to meet Max Roach there. He was on his way in from New York, and they could drive together to Chicago in time for the Blue Note gig. But on Tuesday Brownie decided that on the way to Chicago, he wanted to stop for a while in Elkhart, Indiana, to try out some new horns."

In every picture I've ever seen of Brownie, he's playing the Blessing SA. The distinctive pinky ring on the bottom of the third valve slide is a giveaway. I think that for the purposes of his recordings, it's safe to say he was on the Blessing.
_________________
Jeff Helgesen
Free jazz solo transcriptions!

Lamiczka · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:09 am Post subject:

Hi guys,

I know that I am digging in graves but I was lookig for some info and found this "unresolved" topic and it could be good info.

Clifford Brown played Blessing Artis trumpet. His particular instrument (validated from the archives) is currently owned by Czech jazzman and trumpet player Laco Deczi. He emigrated to US during communist era here in Czech Republic and lives in NY currently. He has pretty good story how he get her.

You can find some info here (it is in czech but you can use google translator)

https://www.idnes.cz/kultura/hudba/laco-deczi-rozhovor.A171129_142044_hudba_vha

khedger · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:20 pm Post subject: