Paul's Trumpet/Wind Instrument Page

In 2010, I rekindled my interest in Bb trumpet and officially became a "comeback" player. I spent many years playing trumpet as a youth, starting off in public school and was a member of the St. Anthony's (Revere, MA) CYO marching band. I studied at North Shore Conservatory (Endicott College) for a time and was taught by, among others, Jim Pastore who played with Chick Corea in a teenage jazz band, the Dorsey band, and the Larry Elgart band. I grew up on a Martin "The Indiana" from the 50s student-grade trumpet, which was handed down from my father.

For my "comeback", I bought an early 90s Bach Stradivarius 37 (LT180), shown in the image with the sheet music to Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey." I reacquainted myself with the Arban book (using a guide from Eric Bolvin) as well as the Clarke Technical Studies. I enjoy playing big band, Sousa-type marches and blues. In Fall 2011, I joined the River's Edge Community Band in Hudson, MA and began lessons with jazz trumpeter Phil Grenadier, who has appeared on 50 CD's, played alongside such famed artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Carlos Santana, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Dionne Warwick and Steve Smith's Vital Information.

I also have great fun playing blues on harmonica. I have a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe in A, Hohner Pro Harp in C, and a Hohner Crossover Marine Band in G. I also have Hohner Blues Harps in C and G, but I don't like them nearly as much as the others, so I usually make these available for the kids. My Hohner Alto Melodica is an unusual harmonica-like instrument with a keyboard. It's fun to play, but more a novelty. Finally, I also play a bit of Irish Whistle; I have the Cillian Faedog in D, a custom-made John Sindt D, and a Howard Low D.