Al Hirt playing a Martin Committee on Lawrence Welk

[Ronnman]

I found these two videos from a 1958 Lawrence Welk show featuring Al Hirt. He appears (and sounds) like he is playing a Martin Committee trumpet. The second video is with Pete Fountain also from New Orleans.
Ron

https://youtu.be/8DZBfDtQHpM

https://youtu.be/p4R4Id25SnY

[nieuwguyski]

I would say it appears he's probably playing a Committee trumpet, but it appears (and sounds) like he's not playing the Jet-Tone mouthpiece he played later in his career.
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J. Notso Nieuwguyski

[tptptp]

He’s the King!😊
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Craig Mitchell

[HERMOKIWI]

He could really play and the joy he brought to the music was awesome. I heard him live just one time: At the Starlight Theater in Kansas City in about 1960. He was starring in the musical "Carnival." After the show he came on stage, talked to the audience and played all the variations of Carnival of Venice. I'll never forget it. What an inspiration to a kid just starting out playing trumpet!
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HERMOKIWI

[Ronnman]

It is definitely a Jettone mouthpiece. I didn’t think they were manufactured by Ratzenberger in the 50s.

I lived about 15 miles from his club on Bourbon Street, New Orleans. I could kick myself for not going to see any of his live performances.
Ron

[GeorgeB]

I was fortunate enough to see Al and Pete at Al's Bourbon Street club and it was an experience I will never forget.
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GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
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1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
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1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
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1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet

[Comeback]

[cgaiii]

Quite a lot of fun. His enthusiasm is wonderful.
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[A.N.A.Mendez]

Thanks

led to a great 40 minutes!
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[mrhappy]

Yes, that was fun!
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MH

[Tony Scodwell]

Bill Ratzenberger was only the partner of the originator of the Jet-Tone mouthpiece, Ray Amado. Ray started making Jet-Tone mouthpieces around 1966 and over the years had most of the leading players using them. Al Hirt was one of the early converts and Ray made his model at that time along with custom models for Doc Severinsen, Bill Chase, Snooky Young, Urbie Green, Charlie Shavers, Buddy Morrow and many more. Ray separated from Ratzenberger around 1969 due to some "financial" discrepancies and Ratzenberger continued making Jet-Tone mouthpieces best he could, which was not nearly the quality that Ray Amado had developed. The name was sold over the years to many people and quality continued to deteriorate.

In these two clips from 1958 Al Hirt is not playing a Jet-Tone mouthpiece which had yet to be conceived.

Tony Scodwell
www.scodwellusa.com

[Ronnman]

Tony, you are correct. After viewing the video on a full size computer screen, I see where it appears similiar to a Martin mouthpiece. Also, thanks for the info on Bill Ratzenberger and Ray Amato. The mid 60s is what I remembered as the begins of the Jet-tone mouthpieces.
Ron

[markp]

I've played the Al Hirt model Jet-Tone and it's tiny!

He's my question: These video examples of Jumbo's playing indicate classical training and seasoning. I heard he went to Curtis or some similar conservatory. He must have played in orchestra and chamber groups. I can't imagine that all through that time he was playing a tiny mouthpiece.

I'd be interested in hearing from someone about the period in which he was changing to tiny mouthpieces. Are there any out there who play your classical music on "lead" mouthpieces?

[kehaulani]

[Ronnman]

kehaulani - based on the video below, Al states about 9:50, that after WW2 he finished at the Cincinnati Conservatory. Later in the interview, he states he has a PHD, I assume in music.
Ron

[url] https://youtu.be/c6v4v0kIe20 [/url]

[kehaulani]

Boy, I really enjoyed that, thanks.

I've never read about his higher formal education being completed but he says he's got a PhD, although it might be honorary. I've never read or heard of his earning a Doctorate, or even that he returned to Cincinnati after the war.

From his lips, though.
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[Ronnman]

Kehaulani - glad you enjoyed the interview. You were spot on, 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

[solo soprano]

In the mid-Fifties the established New Orleans trumpet players were Al Hirt - relatively unknown outside of N.O. at the time who was working a "day job" besides playing trumpet, Alvin Alcorn - legendary cornetist at the"'Dream Room" on Bourbon St., Tony Almerico at the "Paddock" above the "Famous Door" where New Orleans jazz in it's purist form was played. There was Sharkey Bonano ("Old Sharkey had a fat sound, man. He could blow like wild fire and when he played, I am telling you, the whole place would stop dead-away and listen" Al Hirt) , and George Girard who was holding court at the "Famous Door" who tragically died at 27 years old who was not only an outstanding jazz player but had exceptional stage presence as a singer and entertainer and had he lived would have achieved the commercial acclaim of performers like Louis Prima and Al Hirt. And Roy Liberto was very active. Starting out was a very young trumpet virtuoso Warren Luening who later became a very successful studio musician in Calif. and Louis Prima at his "500 Club" on Bourbon St. across the street from the "Dream Room", just two blocks south were the famous "Court of Two Sisters and Pat O'Brian's.

Joe Mares, the brother of Paul Mares who had played trumpet with the Famous New Orleans Rhythm Kings was very active on the N.O music scene and was in the produce business and had a large warehouse on St. Louis Street, he built a recording studio in the middle of the building where he recorded many of the fine, local jazz players for his "Southland" record label. Joe held "New Orleans Crab Boil" dinners for the musicians. at these dinners Al Hirt proved that he was not only a great player, but a good eater as well. It's wasn't long after this that Al Hirt and Pete Fountain started their stints with the Lawrence Welk Band on TV, and the rest is history.

https://youtu.be/4nJLXnCPP6Q
https://youtu.be/c6v4v0kIe20
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[kehaulani]

Man, anybody hear of paragraphs?
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
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Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Nos Mo King]

Terrific! Thanks for the posts of both the Welk show and the interview! Worthy of another bump.


Best,

RC
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Russ Chapman




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