[TPIN] A Gig with Warren Vache'

[David Leonnig]

In 2000, when I worked for RadioShack.com, RadioShack visited the New York Stock Exchange on the day it was officially changing its trading name from Tandy to RadioShack. As part of the festivities, we had a three-ring circus of RadioShack products and services, and in the booth next to ours, we hired a band. The band was Warren Vache', Michael Moore on bass, Eddie Locke, drums and Russell Malone, guitar. (Think I might have had some input there?)
   
  Warren was playing a prototype Vintage One trumpet on the gig and played the entire gig left handed, because he had fallen and torn his right rotator cuff. He was under doctor's orders to lift nothing with his right arm, including his trumpet. 
   
  First, as good as he is on recordings, he is better in person. His sound, even on the trumpet, was warm and even and just flat out gorgeous. The group was marvelous, and his left-handed solos were far better than most right-handed players. While he has a reputation for being pretty mercurial in temperament, he was a perfect gentleman and the group was outstanding. It was a highlight of my life as a fan and trumpet player to be there.
   
  He also played the entire day with a heavy heart - earlier that day, Joe Puma, his longtime friend and guitar player, had passed away, and Warren had been at the hospital with him all night (May 31, 2000). I reconfirmed the date just to make sure I got the story right. 
   
  Whenever someone mentions Warren as a favorite, it doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that he doesn't get more gigs, and I wonder if playing the cornet versus the trumpet makes a difference? He can play any style, as his recordings of "Joy Spring" and "The Eternal Triangle" on an out-of-print Muse CD (Horn of Plenty) will attest. Joe Puma and Warren play a duet on this CD - (Bix Fix).
   
  I will always be a fan. For those who want to hear him play obbligati with guys like Scott Hamilton and Howard Alden behind a singer, get a few of the Rosemary Clooney CDs on Concord - he is on about 75% of her Concord Recordings. Very tasty stuff.
   
  His recording with Bill Charlap is wonderful, and Charlap is a big Warren fan, which makes me a big Charlap fan. I also recommend "What is There to Say", again on the Nagel-Heyer label, which features Joe Puma.  
   
  Dave Leonnig