Jon Faddis with Thad & Mel!

peanuts56 · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Nov 2021 Posts: 229

I've heard Jon live twice. What you don't get on recordings and videos is how powerful he is in person. Last time I saw him he was fronting the SUNY Purchase Faculty Band. He didn't play a real lot. He was conducting most of the show. When he did play, he was off mic quite a bit. His power was astounding. A young drummer I know had Jon for a class at SUNY and loved him. One of the true greats of the instrument.

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 11:51 am Post subject:

I have to take an alternate view. I think Faddis is an incredible player and understand he can read the spots off of anything. But as an improvisor, I just don't get into him. The first solo above, for example. he is all screech, and his melodic ideas are very redundant. IMHO ("humble" being the key word), I think there's more improvised-musicianship packed into four measures of Lee Morgan than an entire chorus by Faddis that I have heard..

If anyone can give me links to playing that contradicts this that would be great. I have nothing to lose y someone else doing well. I have not listened to Faddis in depth because a little diet doesn't make me want to hear more, so i welcome examples to the opposite..
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dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

peanuts56 · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Nov 2021 Posts: 229

LaTrompeta · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 12:30 am Post subject:

I'm not a fan of Jon Faddis. The only time I ever saw him perform live, he was playing with a local high school honor band. He was incredibly rude and disrespectful toward the students and the band as a whole, and publicly expressed to the audience how beneath him it was to be there.

I will never pay to hear Faddis live again.
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HaveTrumpetWillTravel · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:54 am Post subject:

On trumpetherald I feel like each comment receives an equal and opposite reaction. Thesis: antithesis.

I'm sad OP deleted the videos because I always learn from them. Part of the fun of sites like this is being exposed to different artists and approaches. I had a phase where I was watching trumpet interviews, and I remember Faddis as always being interesting and friendly. He's definitely one of the giants.

chase1973 · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 1:57 pm Post subject:

Faddis never was for everybody (unlike his idol Dizzy who was always a gentleman) ...he's an odd duck and let's just say...an acquired taste in both personality and playing style.

LadFree · Regular Member Joined: 30 Jun 2022 Posts: 57 Location: NY

I have played with Jon on a number of occasions,both in the studio and live, and trust me, the guy is a total mutha; He is the very,VERY rare combo of extreme power and sizzle and seemingly 100% accuracy. I would imagine that being that great would bring out a swagger in most folks..and yes ,Jon has that swagger for sure..As would most of us! Amazing player.Would love to have just 10 minutes in my life to be able to experience what thats like!
As for his jazz playing, that ,my friends,is just a taste thing.Either you like,or you don`t..However,he does play some amazing stuff in his solos.Nobody can deny that.Like it or not.

Jon Arnold · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Jan 2002 Posts: 2025

Listen to his album "Legacy." Not only can he play and articulate in the extreme upper register, he also SWINGS and plays with great style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVH6tTBy5Ok&list=PL0q2VleZJVEkmFbFoycoaSF6kCduRPV8v&ab_channel=ktdchon22

kehaulani · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:06 pm Post subject:

@chase (only).

If you live in Port St. Lucie, did you know Marty Fox? When I knew him, he was an excellent trumpet player. He had an audio shop (Fox Audio?). Thanks.
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kehaulani · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:14 pm Post subject:

About swagger, I've known outstanding lead trumpeters (first-call studio) who were regular guys. Confident when it counted but not like they were the baddest guy on the block, either. Being great and having an "attitude" are not necessarily synonymous.
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LadFree · Regular Member Joined: 30 Jun 2022 Posts: 57 Location: NY

I would not at all say Jon has what you call an attitude;
What I meant by swagger, is confidence;And that would be
a well earned confidence in my opinion.
I was on a recording with him and a couple of first call guys(NYC early 80s)
who moved over as soon as he walked in the room.No questions asked;
On another session, he sat on 4th trumpet, and was totally cool with it.
Everybody in the room from the engineers to the receptionist knew
who he was, and aside from a few (corny) jokes, he played his part
with zero attitude.
He also can clown it up pretty good; He`s got a large repertoire of jokes.

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:24 am Post subject:

peanuts56 · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Nov 2021 Posts: 229

I met Jon once when I heard him in 74. He was maybe 21 and was a bit cocky and short. I think he has probably matured a bit. The SUNY students I know who have had him love him. He's known to be a bit quirky with an odd sense of humor from what they've told me.
When I saw him at SUNY Purchase he was funny and engaging. I didn't take the opportunity to go up and meet him afterward. He was sitting at the piano on stage after the performance. My wife was exhausted having flown overnight from a funeral in Hawaii that day and hadn't slept. We just booked out of there as soon as the show ended.

rothman · Veteran Member Joined: 23 Jan 2014 Posts: 329

It seemed like a fire of some type was lit under him following his high note dual with Arturo in the 80's. All of a sudden, recordings began coming out with hundreds of high tones, often above Dbl C, hitting them over again, repeatedly. As if to say, that in case there were any doubters, he was determined to silence them :

(first track)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH9FHpxWz9c

patdublc · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 5:46 am Post subject:

Jon might be described as a bit complex. He often communicates via example to make a point. On one rehearsal that I did where he was the guest artist, each time the trumpet section was playing a little "too square", he would point his horn at us and play an orchestral excerpt.
When it came time for the gig, I had the chance to play next to him on a few tunes. Somebody mentioned his power live - it is truly remarkable. At one point, I came in on a F above high C. There was nothing weak about my F. He waited a couple of beats, then came in on the F with me. Then he ripped it up to F above double high C. It was so loud that I couldn't tell if I was still playing or not.
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