[TPIN] My ITG memories

[Trent Austin]

Wow...lots of wows below.

I guess I'll run a stream of random thoughts together to sum up my ITG
experience. This is the second conference I've attended (the other being
Denver in 04) and I have to say this conference was one of the most
rewarding weeks of my life.

Everyone knows how much I love the trumpet. It truly is my mistress in the
Ellingtonian sense. I love talking shop, playing horns, trying every gadget
known to man, hearing world class musicians and feeling the love between the
trumpet community. ITG is all that and far more! I think this conference had
all of these aspects.

One of the first really positive moments for me was running into the Findley
brothers. I don't know if I've mentioned this but Bob and Chuck were my
first real trumpet instructors... only for two weeks out of the year at the
Maine Jazz Camp (still up and running... check it out!) They hooked me up
with my first ideas about sound, chops, endurance, and especially showed me
the love of the instrument. Gosh they look exactly the same as back in
19..... Music keeps you young.

How cool is it to be able to walk down the hall and say hi to Dave Hickman
(a pleasure to finally formally meet!), Jens, Doc (who was next door to us
and always polite in our brief conversations.. I mean that's DOC! COOL), Jon
Faddis, Susan Slaughter, Arturo (who tore the braces off the XLY and hung
for a half-hour or so in the Eclipse room... he IMO played some of the most
musical things I've ever heard from him in that brief time and I have a
deeper respect for undoubtebly one of the world's greatest technicians!),
etc. WOW

I got to try a bunch of the newer horns. I'd love to be able to sell all my
students on the Eclipse horns (still by a long shot the best horn I
personally played at the ITG.... nothing was close for my playing style) but
I know that they are a premium price tag. I got to try a few horns including
the WB Yamaha... I actually was playing it pretty hard and then Arturo heard
that... he just had to come into the room to show how to really play the
horn. I think I can still hear it and feel the air pressure. Wow.

Jason had a great playing Muse there at the booth and I was really happy to
play it. He's a great guy and very cool to hang out with! I'm excited to see
how he grows as a manufacturer.

The Sonare trumpets blew me away and played very well also. They are great
value instruments and sound great.


Some of you guys/gals that were there must have heard me mention that one of
my personal Osmun mouthpieces went MIA. I thought since it was in the
Eclipse horns at the booth (my two models were on the table for everyone to
try... I'm quite proud of them) someone might have mistakenly put it in
their pocket.

Well, I'm the idiot who put it in his jeans pocket....

I did buy two mouthpieces ( in a panic thinking I had to temporarily replace
my TA). Anyone need one? I also got an amazing Harmon mute, the Davis
Aluminum. The last few hours at ITG is a GREAT time to buy products, btw. I
got one heck of a deal. The Smart Music system was also really (!!) Cool. I
could see where that would be a great tool for teachers and am thinking
about getting one for my studio. The ITG special is a wonderful incentive as
well. I was bummed to not see more mouthpiece manufacturers like Curry and
GR. In 04 Gary had by far the greatest foot traffic to his booth. I'm
assuming that he just doesn't need the press anymore but I wasn't the only
person to wonder why they were.


I only ordered one more thing and that was a new Eclipse Flugel. I have been
mulling it over for quite some time and finally decided to not worry about
the figures and just DO it. In fact my wife has been telling me that for
some time (probably since I don't buy horns anymore) Taking the flugel to
the jam session and realizing that I could literally play anything I thought
of on it was the kicker. WOW WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWWOOWWOW. I
know people will find their ultimate horn and it can be Monette, Destino,
Blackburn, etc but you WILL NOT find a better flugel than the Eclipse. It's
the best flugel ever made in a landslide and EVERY person who played it at
ITG were astonished by it. You should all have heard Nick TEAR off the
braces on the flugel at the jam session as well. I think that was forbidden
in 23 states, right? More later on the people from itg.

The jam sessions were great fun and I felt especially honored that I could
host the opening night's session. I can't believe how many amazing players
showed up to this. One time on Thursday's session the 4 players on stage
were Matt Shulman(virtuoso), Philip Dizack (Caruso winner and wow can he
play and he's only 21... look out world!), Greg Rivkin (Caruso finalist who
astonished me by his playing in EVERY style), and I was holding up the rear.
I told Matt that was the "young lion" section but then realized I wasn't
young anymore. Oh well!

Pat Harbison's playing the stuffing out of the rhythm changes in C#, F# and
B was also another highlight. You are da man!


On a personal note and sidebar I felt really bad for Mike Vax's session as
the DJ in the other room really ruined it. It was so loud I think Mike might
have asked me to play and I couldn't hear him (I was sitting next to Paul at
the jam). I actually had to leave early for my own sanity as I was really
ticked at the Landmark for allowing the DJ to play (on a WEDNESDAY night?
DJ? Agh)

Seriously it was great to play on the session where I could feel a good
barometer of where my playing is and where it needs to go. I definitely need
to shed more but couldn't have asked for better motivation (okay...the
Arturo thing did motivate me as well!). Thanks go out to Bryan for allowing
me to share the stage with the great players all week. Yep, another WOW!

I also got to sneak out of the Eclipse booth and check out some simply
jaw-dropping concerts. The Mnozil Brass concert on Wednesday was far and
away the most amazing brass concert I've ever been to. Often people get so
serious that the musicians forget that our #1 responsibility is to entertain
the crowd. This group has world-class musicianship, singing (with perfect
English!), dancing, humor, and bravura that I simply have never seen from a
brass ensemble. Think about the Canadian Brass on Steriods and you'll come a
little closer. Thomas Gansch also jammed a bunch at the session and that was
another personal highlight that I'll never forget. I'll post my pics later
today and you'll see Thomas. Do yourself a favor and buy the DVD or attend a
live show.

I especially liked the new music concert on Friday. Unfortunately I didn't
get to SEE Dan's show Ed but I heard him play outside as I was a little late
(manning the booth didn't always allow me to be spot on all the time)...
what I did hear was excellent! Brian Shaw also played beautifully and IMO
the some of the most emotional music I've heard at the ITG (dedicated to his
long-time pianist who's battling cancer and unable to perform at the
conference). Philip Dizack again amazed me and dropped my jaw. I can't wait
to check out his CD later today, along with TM's new member (and OLD roomie)
Paul Tynan, and Nick's new CD. Woo-hoo!

I do think the highlight for me was really the hang on Thursday and working
the booth. I say that because I "talk" with so many of you that it truly was
great to put names to faces. The connections I've made at ITG will last
forever as friends (just as long as none of those pics or sound clips are
put of me from the last night people!). I really enjoyed hanging with Gary
for the first time in person. He has a heart of gold and is a MUCH (!!!!)
better player than he lets on. I really look forward to more long chats with
him as I probably got to hang with him the most at the conference (due to
Leigh's crazy sleeping habits!).

Bruce's and Leigh's new Teatro played great and it was a really great
addition to the First Class Brass line of products. I think people will
really enjoy this new entry in the world of "superhorns!". KUDOS as always
to my bud Bruce for

All the TM, TH , and TPINers were so COOL to hang out with all week. I'm
proud to be a member of these sites and will continue to post as much as
possible! You ALL have found a place deep in my heart as friends. I really
want to go back and hang some more (maybe in a bigger room and better
acoustics )

One last note: I know you all know that I love my horns and have found the
absolute match of horn in my hand to horn in my head. I couldn't have been
more proud for Leigh McKinney and his line of instruments at the ITG..
People searched us out (it wasn't the easiest room to find) and virtually
everyone was blown away. Hundreds of "these are the best horns at the show"
made me smile as big as I could. Leigh is the nicest cat in the business and
goes well out of his way to make sure owners of the instruments are 100%
satisfied with everything. I'm honored I get to play your instrument and
will NEVER look back from here! I'm proud of you and am so glad to have you
as a good friend. Simply put you've cured my "habit" for blaming horns and
that's re-energized my practicing.

Speaking of... I gotta go warm up! Take care and to everyone from the ITG I
will look forward to seeing you next year at U-Mass (woo-hoo!)

Best,

Trent

-- 
Trent Austin
16 Chandler St.
Salem,  MA 01970
Trent Austin's  "Two-Toned" CD is now available!  For more information and
details go to www.trentaustin.com or www.cdbaby.com/trentaustin2 .