How Many Of You Met Mendez?

trpt.hick · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:21 pm Post subject: How Many Of You Met Mendez?

Mendez performed with hundreds of high school and college bands, as well as with many professional ensembles.

How many of you saw Mendez perform live?

Any interesting stories to relate?

_Happy Canuck · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:42 am Post subject:

I had the pleasure of meeting him in December of 1963 (clipping from the Regina Leader-Post at the Mendez Library). He held a seminar in the afternoon for 'band kids' and then played a fantastic concert in the evening.

I had him sign my copy of "Flirtations of a Trumpet" and "Intermezzo" and was thrilled to meet him! I had most of his LPs and listened to them constantly.

I wish that his book, Prelude to Brass Playing, was still available but I guess that Carl Fischer still has the rights and is not interested in reprinting it?
_________________
Bill

Olds Mendez, Recording, Super, Special & Ambassador trumpets/GR Butcher 65.6M
Olds Opera, Ambassador Shepherds Crook cornets/Sparx 4B
Olds L-12 Flug/GR Butcher 65.6FL
Schilke MII trumpet/GR Butcher 65.6M

oj · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:01 am Post subject:

Bill,

Did you not read Dave's post (in another forum on TH) about the book?

I have a summary of it here:

Prelude to Brass Playing was written by Edward Gibney

Ole

_Happy Canuck · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:55 am Post subject:

WOW, thanks Ole.

It certainly would be nice to see the book in print!
_________________
Bill

Olds Mendez, Recording, Super, Special & Ambassador trumpets/GR Butcher 65.6M
Olds Opera, Ambassador Shepherds Crook cornets/Sparx 4B
Olds L-12 Flug/GR Butcher 65.6FL
Schilke MII trumpet/GR Butcher 65.6M

Lex Grantham · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:03 pm Post subject:

I saw him perform at Lufkin High School, Lufkin, Texas in April, 1960. I took my entire high school band to hear him play. No need to say they were VERY impressed...me too.

Sincerely,

Lex Grantham

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

DesMoines Iowa, I believe 1966. My parents drove me to hear him play at one of the High Schools. I'll never forget it. Thrilling.

Blancolate · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 8:03 pm Post subject:

My trumpet teacher met Mr. Mendez while he was playing at a church ceremony late in his life.

He tells me that after the ceremony Mr. Mendez and others went to the church cafeteria. While at the church cafeteria Mendez sat down and played Mexican folklore dance music for the ladies.

As he played the women all danced and had a great time.

My teacher seems to have been most impressed not only by technique but that he chose to play the tunes in the most difficult keys. Although older, his playing was impeccable.

I also believe Mendez dad started him off with C# major scale when he started on the trumpet, instead of the usual C Major.

If only my teacher would have started me off on C#.Hmmmmm?

trpt.hick · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject:

Yeah, then we would think of C as the most difficult!

bulos · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:

My friend Al Stewart was on staff at one of the NY TV stations and Mendez was a guest. He remembers Mendez showing the guys which I think included Bernie Glow how he could play virtually anywhere on his mouth. He picked something very difficult and while playing it moved the mouthpiece from one side of his chops to the other and then back again without as much as a clamette.
_________________
Marquis de Sade: "In art, one has to kill one's father."

Bill Bryant · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:15 am Post subject:

I never met Mendez, but I had a phone conversation with him in 1976 or 1977. At the end of our chat he invited me to come over to his house to continue our visit (I lived about an hour away). I was 18 or 19 and had no idea what a fool I was for neglecting to drive over.

That missed opportunity is one of my biggest musical regrets.