[TPIN] Stories of Inspiring musicians [was: This is the "Doc" I remember]

[Charles Perron]

I have really enjoyed reading all the recollections and outpouring about
Doc.  Jim Manley called him a 'true trumpet hero' and those words capture it
for me.

This got me thinking of other times where someone left me in awe.  This may
be one of those "you had to be there" type stories, but here goes:

I was playing in the Bobby Rodriguez Orchestra in Ft. Lauderdale a lot in
the mid 80's and one of the lead trombone players was Teddy Mulet (this was
pre-Miami Sound Machine days for those of you who know Teddy).  I only knew
Teddy as a trombone player.  I had seen him sit in on piano once when the
piano player was late and he sounded good, but other than that, in my mind,
trombone was his instrument.

And then one night we were playing this WILD concert.  It was some sort of
city celebration; I really can't remember.  People everywhere, dancing,
partying.  We did a number of Latin-ish tunes and on one of them everyone
was taking a solo.  Teddy stood up and played this fantastic trombone solo
that could not be topped...

Until...

He turned back to the trumpet section and asked one of them if he could
borrow a trumpet!  Somebody gave him their trumpet and he stood up again,
this time on an instrument I didn't know he could even play!  Well, he
didn't just play.  He tore the place apart.  There was nothing left for
anyone TO play when he got done.  Great ideas, great sound, technique,
range.  Everything.    

That night will live in my mind forever.  I turned to him after the concert
and told him my surprise.  He always seemed to be a very friendly and calm
person and he nonchalantly said, "well, I was a trumpet major at the
university in the Dominican Republic" (it was a long time ago, I think
that's where he said he was from).  The things I heard him play on trombone
AND trumpet were absolutely virtuosic.  Again, simply amazing.
  

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Arndt (gmail) [mailto:thirdvalve at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:27 PM
To: 'Charles Perron'
Subject: RE: [TPIN] This is the "Doc" I remember

Charles,

That is a great story.  Amazing....