Brett Lemley, Trumpet (continued)

A few years go by. I play a bunch of gigs, I’m a reasonably well-known trumpet player on the classical scene, I’m making decent money (when you throw in the restaurant jobs). I’m also miserable. Don’t get me wrong. I love all kinds of music, and some of my favorite musical moments have occurred while I was playing piccolo trumpet or in an orchestra. I just knew something wasn’t right, and it was a year or two more before I figured it out.

One day I came home from a ˜gig from hell.” One of those times when the conductor is an idiot, the other musicians are snobs and you can’t wait to get your check and go. I practically ripped my tux off when I got home, and I needed to unwind. I put some Chet on the CD player, and collapsed on the couch. A few minutes later, as I listened to him blowing one of his perfect solos on ˜But Not for Me,” I thought, ˜I used to do that. I used to be a pretty good jazz player.” By the time the tune was over, I knew what was wrong, what was missing, and what I had to change.

That was in 1999. Since then I’ve transcribed about 100 of my favorite solos, taken lessons from guys like Donald Byrd and Chris Vadala, and I’ve earned my Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies. Along with Blue Sky 5 I’ve also played with Joe Lovano, Allen Vizzutti, and Tom Cunningham. And I’m happy. ”