George Graham

[Liad Bar-EL]

http://www.trumpetgeorge.com/

George Graham, Hollywood studio and freelance trumpet player is one of the most diverse musicians in the music business today. George has spent the last 40 years working in virtually every facet of the entertainment business, including movies, television, recordings and live performances.

He's a great guy to talk to also.

Liad

[trumpetdiva1]

I heard that George worked as a jazz soloist for most of his life in LA. He did not have his upper register develop until later on in life. I do not know if this is accurate information, but this is what I have heard from another admirer of George. So, please correct me if I am wrong.

It is obvious that George developed his high register into something that sounds great. His tone is nice and sweet across all registers. I highly recommend his recordings.






[ This Message was edited by: trumpetdiva1 on 2002-10-25 18:15 ]

[Liad Bar-EL]

trumpetdiva1,

I'll get back to you on this.

From what I know is that for being 20 years in LA, he has been in wide variety of TV, film and recording studio assignments, special mega events as well as working with singers such as Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Diane Schuur, etc and also working with big bands of Gerald Wilson, Ray Anthony, Louis Bellson, Bob Florence and Tom Kubis.

It is with Bob Forence and Tom Kubis that George was directly involved with in his latest recording CD, How About Me? which I listed in the Recordings Forum.

Liad

[_Don Herman]

Interview with George on Roddy's site: http://www.r-o-d-d-y-t-r-u-m-p-e-t.cc/home.html

BTW, what happened to our Welsh friend? Anybody heard from Roddy lately?

Final note: George's Range Routine is a great thing to own...

FWIW - Don
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

[Liad Bar-EL]

Here's a quick reply from George to answer your question.

==========

In answer to the question: I started out as a jazzer with not much range. I had quite an overbite which was the cause of that. I was however, one of the real up and coming young jazz players and that got me the chance to play in sections with virtually all of the great lead players and therefore enabled me to experience all the different styles being played correctly. Also during this time, one of my teachers got me to get rid of the overbite and even out my teeth so that I could blow straight into the mouthpiece. Then came the range builder with Arnie and moving to Reno where I spent the next 15 years playing lead and developing. It sounds easy but actually there was some hard work involved.

I forgot to mention that in my early years I also had extensive training playing in all of the prestigious youth orchestras in Los Angeles under many great conductor/composers such as Miklos Rosa, Leo Arnud and John Lewis. That helped a lot.

I hope that sheds some light on the subject.

Everything alright there?

George

========

BTW, you can purchase the "George and Arnie's Range Builder" directly through George.

All the best,

Liad

[trumpetdiva1]

[ This Message was edited by: trumpetdiva1 on 2002-10-25 18:50 ]

[Liad Bar-EL]

Please don't let this subject stop here.

Keep us posted as to what you are going to do and the progress you make as a result.

Good luck and be well,

Liad

[Liad Bar-EL]

George's UPDATE:

=====
Actually I was able to get the range thing going earlier than what he's indicating. As soon as I evened out my teeth, my range went up a 4th and that was before Reno. When I returned to Los Angeles in '79 I was already a capable lead player and had spent some years as Anthony Newley and Dionne Warwick's traveling lead player.

=====

Liad

[ This Message was edited by: Liad Bar-EL on 2002-10-24 12:44 ]

[Liad Bar-EL]

ATTENTION:
George Said:
=====

I may have been unclear. When I said evening my teeth I meant bringing my jaw forward in order to get the lowers frontward. He sounded like he was going to get a file and chisel.

GG

=====

I'm sure you did not mean that trumpetdiva1 otherwise you would have asked for a hammer also.

Liad


[ This Message was edited by: Liad Bar-EL on 2002-10-24 15:14 ]

[Liad Bar-EL]

trumpetdiva1,

If there is something that I have said to make you upset or embarrassed, I want to apologize.

FYI, I also have an overbite. One of the first things my teacher (1st trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra) did was to have me move my lower jaw forward.

My best advice to you is to set aside some money and contact a highly professional trumpet player/teacher to guide you to get your chops set in the right way for your mouth setup.

Good luck,

Liad

[dbacon]

DB

[Liad Bar-EL]

George has a sound you will not forget because the sound is not just of ears but of the heart as well.

He is not doing calisthenics on the horn but rather he is "talking" to you. His ballads on his latest CD will make your heart melt.

George, are you going to say something here soon?

Liad

[trumpetdiva1]

[Liad Bar-EL]

trumpetdiva1,

Thanks for your kind post.

I have found that by eating corn on the cob gives me a very real occassion to feel how it is to push my bottom jaw forward. This makes it even more enjoyable, especially if the corn is sweet.

Keep us posted as to your progress.

Be well and good luck,

Liad

[DBLG]

Hello everybody. Sorry that it's taken so long to say anything.
I guess I'm a bit shy. Besides, it's kinda nice to lay back and
read all this really cool stuff you are writting about me. I figure
that if I open my mouth you all will find me out and I don't want
that to happen.

I have to thank Liad for hipping me to the TH forum. It's by far
the best group that I've come across so far.

And also I want to apologize to Dave for bailing out of performing in Phoenix recently. I'm getting a handle on all my
"old folk" ailments and am actually planning on playing some more. In fact we're doing a couple Kubis concerts soon.

So for now, Hello to you all and thanks for all the very kind
words.

Love you all,

George

[dbacon]

DB

[DBLG]

Yo Dave. He's always been that way. He just loves everyone and everything. Malcolm and I are in complete awe of not only
his telephone skills but also his memory. A good example is
during one of the Oscar shows a few years back, we were off
the air for 5 minutes and during that break Rick got his cell phone out and called Malcolm on his cell and wished them a
happy anniversary down at Newport Beach. He was the only one that remembered. Amazing! It's that kind of caring that makes him different and sucessful I might add.
As far as the no mistakes thing. That's just the way it is. There's just too many people waiting for that to happen. You just have to learn how to use that pressure to make positive
performance happen. Then there is no pressure.

Cheers,

George

[mark936]

As soon as I heard George play on the trumpetstuff or roddy's site I went looking for a BelCanto trumpet.

What a buttery sound. Can't find one of those anywhere.

mm

[pair of kings]

We got the CD "With More Help From My Friends". My husband had it in his car CD for about 2 months straight. He memorized it.
Really awesome playing - a great CD. Anyone who doesn't have it NEEDS it.
You're right Dave - the high notes don't sound as high as what they are - the quality is there all the way around.

[Karel]

Hi, Mark 936,

I'm living in the Netherlands (Europe), and I know someone who's selling a Bel-Canto Large-bore model. He's claiming that this horn is in an very good shape. He askes
€ 1100,= for this trumpet. I think the U.S-dollar is about the same value as the Euro (€).
Give me an e-mail if you are interested and I will give you his adress.

Sincerely,
Karel.