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Recommended Reading
Maurice André: During the peak of his professional career, Maurice André was globally regarded as the greatest trumpeter of his generation, possibly even of all time. This alone tells a lot about his musicality, sheer technical ability and his understanding of a variety of different styles.
From a classical trumpeter’s perspective, Maurice André was one of the first great players to noticeably increase the solo trumpet repertory. He elevated the profile of the piccolo trumpet, transcribing music for other instruments (for example the many beautiful oboe concertos he recorded) whilst also instigating a rediscovery of many original works for trumpet which had previously been neglected.
As well as being a highly skilled trumpeter, André possessed the flair to convincingly tackle many different styles. His recordings of the early classical concerti of Haydn and Hummel remain in very high regard, but his ability to switch from this very refined style to the incredible extravagance of Le Canari marks him as a fine player thoroughly deserving of the many accolades awarded to him.
Håkan Hardenberger: No piece of writing on 20th Century trumpeters is complete without the mention of Hardenberger. He has been responsible for commissioning vast amounts of new repertoire for the trumpet, pushing the boundaries of performance capabilities through his own flawless technique and soloistic ability. Although he is not renowned for his recordings of “standard” works, his expertise and ceaseless drive to expand the trumpet repertory render this if not irrelevant then at least largely overlooked.
As a teacher, Hardenberger is Professor of Trumpet at Malmö Academy of Music, Prince Consort Professor of Trumpet at the Royal College of Music and holds the International Chair in Brass studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. Among his former students can be found Alison Balsom, winner of the ‘Female Artist of the Year’ award at the Classical Brits 2011, and his high level of involvement in the conservatoires means he has helped mould the careers of a high percentage of today’s best young players, including such rising stars as Philip Cobb and Huw Morgan.
As a recording artist he has released numerous discs, across many styles which are encapsulated in his “The Art of the Trumpet” 5CD Box-Set. In it he not only presents classical concerti and the contemporary works for which he is renowned, but also demonstrates his wonderful virtuosity in a CD of music for trumpet and organ, lighter pieces and a broad mix of other music in between. His stunning virtuosity in all areas coupled with a sensitive understanding of the instrument ensure he will be long remembered.
Wynton Marsalis: Marsalis can comfortably be regarded as one of the most natural talents on the trumpet, as well as one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Many of his recordings of classical works remain very popular, while his jazz albums continue to demonstrate his incredible talent. Whilst he has most definitely not established the same levels of commitment to contemporary solo works as some others mentioned here, his own solo and ensemble compositions (such as Blood on the Fields and All Rise) are very fine modern works.
According to his website, Marsalis was the first person to win Grammys for jazz and classical work, the first jazz musician to win a Pullitzer Prize, and is a Nobel messenger for peace. An outspoken and often-criticised individual, he has nonetheless used his own position of influence to the best of his ability and is always concerned with the democratisation of music rather than merely its dissemination.
Philip Jones: Although not necessarily the most gifted trumpeter to come out of Britain, nor the most powerful, Jones was responsible for the internationally famed Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. Regardless of his other professional positions, it was with the PJBE that he was most influential for future generations, by raising the profile of brass chamber music to previously uncharted heights. While some might well argue that today’s brass ensembles are able to outperform Philip Jones’ original ensembles, the fact that they are able to exist at all is largely thanks to his hard work.
Aside from their many recordings, the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble also commissioned large amounts of new music for brass ensemble, as well as making and publishing arrangements. Without his drive it is impossible to judge the situation brass ensemble music would currently be in, but it is no surprise to find that numerous UK Conservatoires hold yearly competitions for brass ensembles in his memory.
Miles Davis: In Davis’ 65 years he became one of the most influential musicians in the world, a position that he still holds in jazz circles. Aside from his own virtuoso technique, which offered up a distinctive sound, his musical language remains remarkable in its fluency. His 1959 album, Kind of Blue, was given its fourth platinum award in 2008 and is reputedly the best-selling jazz record of all time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, cited as one of the key figures in jazz history. As a recording artist, he released some 67 studio albums and 51 live albums, along with more than 100 other releases during his career.
What marks Miles Davis as a key figure in the world of the trumpet, indeed music as a whole, is the influence he had on the changing face of jazz. He is strongly linked with the development of Cool Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop and the use of electronic instruments and sampling. The album Bitches’ Brew for example features tracks which were never actually performed live, but were in fact sampled and mixed from a larger selection of motifs that were recorded in the studio. This apparent desire to continually search for the next face of jazz ensured his music never stagnated and is as popular today as ever.
As a band-leader Davis assisted the development of many future greats in jazz such as Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Hancock as well as being influential to other musicians such as Sting, Frank Zappa and Radiohead.
