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| Dave Monette joins trombone gurus Jim Pugh and Dave
Taylor in New York at a studio recording date, November 2000. Jim
was trying (and liking!) a prototype small-shank trombone mouthpiece Dave
made for him just the day before the trip! |
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Jim Pugh Tries the First Monette
Small-Shank Trombone Mouthpieces!
New York trombone wizard Jim Pugh has been kind enough
to be our first field-tester for the first prototype Monette small-shank
trombone mouthpieces. Dave Monette and Dean Comley hand-cut a few
prototypes the day before Dave’s recent East Coast trip, and then Dave
flew to New York and met Jim just an hour before a Thursday night performance
of the Broadway show “Fosse,” where Jim plays first trombone in the pit
orchestra. |
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| Jim Pugh in the studio trombone section during the
studio recording session. L. to R: Larry Farrell, Jim Pugh, Mike
Davis, Dave Taylor |
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Jim said the mouthpiece immediately felt more comfortable
than his old mouthpiece, and
he used it for the entire show that night! Jim’s
feedback was that the mouthpiece sounded and felt great! After the show,
Jim asked to try it the next day on a “Wendy’s” TV commercial soundtrack
recording session to see how it would work in a studio situation.
Dave Monette sat in on the recording session, and Jim
said the mouthpiece again felt great and sounded great on the playback.
Jim then reluctantly gave the mouthpiece back to Dave to take back to Oregon
to use for reference when making the next round of prototypes. We
look forward to finalizing this new design for Jim very soon, and then
formally introducing the first model of Monette small shank trombone mouthpiece
for sale to the general public.
Thanks for the help and support, Jim. We look forward
to getting your mouthpiece back to you! |
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The Broadhurst Theater at Broadway and 44th in Manhattan,
where Craig Johnson reigns supreme
playing the lead trumpet book for “Fosse.” |
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| Across the street from “Fosse,” the musical "Swing"
is at the St. James Theater, featuring our client Ravi Best playing the
on-stage solo trumpet book. |
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| Ravi Best and Dave Monette sitting on stage after
the Friday night performance of "Swing" |
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| Dave and Craig Johnson after "Fosse" in the locker
room of the Broadhurst Theatre. |
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Craig Johnson and Ravi Best on
Broadway
Longtime clients Ravi Best and Craig Johnson are cranking
away on Broadway, so if you are passing through New York, check them out.
Ravi has been on the show "Swing" for nearly a year now
– playing the on-stage solo trumpet book on his AJNA II B-flat. The
show was nominated for Best Musical for 2000, and is a great show for musicians
to see! The band is on-stage for the entire show, with individual
band members coming out front to center stage to interact with the dancers.
Ravi is a natural on stage, and the dancers on the show better watch out!
Craig Johnson has been playing "Fosse" now for several
years, using our Monette BL-2 series mouthpieces. The original Monette
BL-2 was originally developed for Craig by Dave Monette back when he joined
Maynard's band in 1990. Sitting right behind Craig in the pit is
our new trombone mouthpiece client Jim Pugh, who is testing the first Monette
small-shank trombone mouthpieces for us (see previous link).
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| Rayburn Music Brass Department manager, Lee Walkowich,
Dave, and Charlie Schlueter |
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| Dave with Steve Dillon and staff at Dillon Music in
Woodbridge, New Jersey. |
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Dave Checks in with Rayburn
Music and Dillon Music
Dave started his tour of the East Coast visiting New York
City, where he departed on a brief trip to check in with our mouthpiece
dealer Dillon Music, in Woodbridge, New Jersey - about a 40 minute trip
from Manhattan. The owner, Steve Dillon, runs a great shop with lots
of Monette mouthpieces to choose from, so if you are in the neighborhood,
stop by.
Continuing up the eastern seaboard, Dave stopped by Symphony
Hall and heard Charlie Schlueter play Mahler 5 with the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
Right next door to Symphony Hall is Rayburn Music, where
Lee Walkowich runs one of our busiest mouthpiece dealers. If you
want some excellent help from a staff of professional brass players in
Boston, do the following:
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Catch Charlie playing with the BSO
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After your goose bumps fade a little, head over and see Lee
at Rayburn Music.
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| Dave, Sue Dunham (Boston Symphony staff), Charlie
Schlueter, and Chester Schmitz |
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Charlie Schlueter Sounded Phenomenal
on Mahler 5!
Dave's real mission for his trip to the East Coast was
to hear Charlie and the Boston trumpet section (all-Monette) with the entire
BSO play Mahler 5. If you have ever sat in Symphony Hall and heard
Charlie play, you will totally understand the need to travel 3,000 miles
for a 90 minute show with Charlie leading the BSO brass.
Our client Yoshio
Nishi wins the award, however. He traveled 9,000 miles (from Tokyo
to Boston) to hear the performance! Many listeners commented after
the show that it was possibly the best they had ever heard Charlie Schlueter
sound - and that’s saying something! |
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