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Trumpet Celebrity Interviews

[ a celebration of the artistry of ALL styles of Trumpet ]







J E F F   E A T O N



1. Web address?

Sure! its www.jeffeatonmusic.com
(how did i think up that clever address, you ask?) please sign the guestbook when you visit it.

2. What made you decide to play trumpet?

I think I must have played trumpet in a previous life or something, because since I was a little kid, its something I wanted to do. As a 3 year old, I always had a toy trumpet around, and was always asking for a real one at Christmas when I was 5,6,&7 years old. I kept getting the little toy ones with finger holes like a flute instead of the real deal.

3. At what age did you start?

When I was in middle school I wanted to play in the school band, but my parents were not supportive. Not because they didn't love music, my father had been a big band singer before WWII and was replaced by singer Perry Como when he went into the Army, my mother had dated several musicians and they both were wary of how tough a musicians life could be.. so they discouraged me from playing.

I saved up my lunch money and lawn mowing money and without their knowledge, I forged their names on a rental agreement for a student model trumpet. I kept it at a friends house that first year until I finally broke the news to my parents that I was learning to play. I think I was about 11 years old, unless you count the kazoo toy trumpets I mentioned earlier.

4.On leaving your education, have you always been a full time musician?

I came back off the road from working with the Righteous Bros at the age of 19 and had only fifty dollars to my name. I decided to go back to school and get a career I could fall back on. It turned out that I had some talent for the Health Sciences, and found myself preparing for a career as a dentist. I put myself thru undergrad and dental school playing music nights in the local clubs. Summer vacations, I would tour or travel as things came up.

5.Please describe your early experiences of semi pro work.

at age 15 I was playing in local R&B and soul bands in southern california. at 18, I was working in Las Vegas with lounge show bands, and got picked up by groups like The Checkmates, the Righteous Bros, and Lou Rawls. While in undergrad I played with some great local southern california groups like Horns,Strings and Things and the Stroke Bros, and Nitelife. In fact, we remain great friends to this day,and we often gig together when I play in Palm Springs leading my own group.

6. What teachers have helped you?

my first teacher, Skip Shortlidge, from Riverside CA, was a great guy who had played lead with the Buddy Rich band, and got me in with the Righteous Bros. a wonderful guy. In the bay area, my trumpet guru is the local legend, the fabulous John Worley. what a great all around musician and friend! he continues to amaze me with his playing, his recordings and performances are great listening, I highly recommend him. I also have studied with my dear friends, Mic Gillette, Scotty Englebright, and Allen Smith (of Frank Sinatra and Count Basie fame) and the great Tito Puente lead trumpet player, Ray Vega. I have studied briefly with: Arturo Sandoval, Johnny Capolla, Marvin Stamm, & Chuck Mangione

8. Any orchestral experience?

I have a few recordings,,, haha... actually, pretty limited Orchestral experience.

9. What session experiences?

Well, I have recorded reggae music with Makka, and with Tim Hains for the cd's.

In 1969 i recorded on the Checkmates No 1 summer hit:"Black Pearl" which was a million seller. I have recorded with SF Bay area bands Safari (www.latinsafari.com)

and Sapo with Jorge Santana (www.sapomusic.com)

I have recorded on 2 Big Band cd's with the Chops Big Band, and the Russ Button big band

10. And the touring?

I have toured France twice with the Funk band "the Motivators", England with Tim Hains, Guam and Hawaii with the Latin group "Salsa Hawaii." I perform and many festivals across the country with my latin band 'Safari' including: opening for Arturo Sandoval and Celia Cruz at the Latin Jazz Festival in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Touring with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, touring with pianist/vocalist Freddy Cole, and playing lead trumpet with the Dmitri Matheny big band, and working with headliners: James Moody, Diana Krall, and Red Holloway.

Also played the Maui Music Festival, the Catalina Jazz Festival, the Northbeach Festival, the Oakland Art and Soul Festival, and many others.

11. Any solo recordings?

Yes, thanks for asking! My solo cd project is entitled "Jeff Eaton, Romanticas" and features many of the great musicians from Carlos Santanas band, Tower of Power, and Pete Escovedos band. The project was produced by Herbie Hancock alum, Ray Obiedo who also perfoms on it. Its available at www.cdbaby.com and Barnes and Noble Bookstores.

Its getting some radio airplay in California, and is being well received. Hope you can check it out!

12. What new projects are you involved in?

Just finished recording on a track for Mic Gillettes upcoming CD:- "EarCandy"

Its going to be a huge success for Mic,,, it was a honor to get to play with him and Dave Garibaldi again. My own solo group is now appearing monthly in Palm Springs, and its a great opportunity to feature the tunes from my cd. We have a ball playing together, and Palm Springs is always a fun hang.

13. Favorite 4 music albums?

Carl Saunders, a fantastic LA trumpet player, is one of my favorite cds... likewise Terence Blanchards Brazilian album "the heart speaks"

Ray Vegas cd: Boperation, John Worleys CD "WorlView" and as a bonus: Tower of Power, with Mic Gillette: :BumpCity.

14. Your favourite 2 movies?

Just two??? ummm.. ok.... Spike Lees "Mo' Better Blues," with Denzel Washington as a trumpet player (actually performed by Terence Blanchard, by the way) and an old old favorite:
Kirk Douglas plays (as a Bix Biederbecke-like character ) in the fifties movie: "Young Man With a Horn" also starring Hoagie Carmichael.
man, i loved that movie when I was a kid... How bout a bonus movie: check out "Drumline" , will make you want to march! although I never did enjoy the marching band thing all that much, I did it in high school.

15. Your favourite foods?

ahhh,,,, the health issue raises its ugly head! hehe Nachos, Filet Mignon, and...........Lobster. why,, you buying?????

["No bloody way -- sounds like you eat like a horse!" :) - 'R' ]

16. Non-musical hobbies / points of interest ?

Well, I love to do volunteer work. I am in my 11th year as a volunteer faculty member at UCSF School of Dentistry, where I help mentor a wonderful program called "the Homeless Dental Program", when not playing music or practicing dentistry, you will find me on the golf course trying to whip Mic Gillette.

17. How do 'days off' from playing trumpet affect you?

A great question!
Resting between hard gigs, and practicing is essential to the bodies recovery and healing process.. Scott Englebrights book addresses this very well and is a must read for serious players.. check out "the Tastee Bros" instructional books by Scott and Donny. www.tasteebros.com

18. chop problems?

Man, I have had some unpleasant experiences of trying to play pretty early Sunday morning in a Church service after playing loud, high lead stuff the night before. once the chops swell, it just takes time to come back, you can play all the low long tones you want, its just gonna take time. Also, once in France I was accidentally pushed into a glass window face first.. Got a bad cut and swelling on the lip that made it impossible to play for a couple of weeks. It was hilarious to even try... was only able to produce the tone of a beginning trumpet player. People thought i was joking... it was absolutely impossible to play til the swelling healed.

19. Three trumpet tips:

hmmm...
  • rest as much as you practice,
  • play everything with conviction (loud and proud or wrong and strong!),
  • and .... find the prettiest woman in the audience to play to.... then marry her on your break!

20. End of interview statement?

well, this was quite an extensive interview... I have enjoyed reading your site and hope to hear you play in person someday! Thanks for the invite...

...and like Mic Gillette says: "Brass Kicks Ass" !!



Thank you very much indeed for sharing your thoughts with the
' Trumpet Web Community '10th Feb 2005.


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