Hi again all,

Another clip from Channel 20 public access in Great Neck, NY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQpr3GygEsk

Why does the trumpet player keep holding his elbow?
Great playing, by the way.

Why does the trumpet player keep holding his elbow?
Great playing, by the way.

Thanks. I don't know why Keith is doing that. I've never seen anyone else play that way. I imagine it's a technique issue that should be ironed out.
I only met him twice though -- once for rehearsal, once for the taping, so it would feel wierd to ask him two months after the fact!

I do NOT know why he is holding his elbow, but it looks like his trumpet is substantially smaller than a normal trumpet. Perhaps he doesn't have a place to put his left hand on the trumpet itself, so he holds his right arm with his left hand to help prevent fatigue in his right arm. Or perhaps he worries that if he places his left hand on his little trumpet, his hand sweat will tarnish the trumpet. I don't know.

I do know I'm glad you posted it. It is nice playing and great tone. Thanks!

I came across a local Craigslist listing for a Benge Pocket Trumpet. Evidently the breed is also called piccolo trumpet. It looks like what we're hearing played on Andy's YouTube video. Anyway, a Google search of Benge Trumpet reveals stories of this man Lou Duda who designed the horn when he worked for Benge. It's a pretty interesting saga, far removed from Barker Basses, but still another glimpse into the fascinating musical instrument world of which we are all a part. Donald Benge died at the age of 73, hit by a drunk driver. According to an item I found, he was "a very interesting man with wide recognition in coin collecting, gaming and fencing circles."

Now there are even more YouTube videos of the Barker.

See Will Witt get the slap on!

Ponder with Will the beauty of arriving early!

Watch the bass builder field very tough questions!



http://youtube.com/watch?v=zLJ_Z6xUnbw

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TpCKe6UnAWA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PFGWFSxOkvo

Brian Johnson, director and editor

Will Witt, talent

Lee Barker, Master Royal Executive Magnum Uber Producer

The new videos are all terrific!
Love the sustain demonstration.
And arriving early is where it's at.

Peace,
Andy

Yet another Barker owner steps up to the camera....Bill Leblanc, who gigs with Jazzotica in Nova Scotia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3pfzC1v5QM

And Still One More! Will Witt in the studio with his Barker 5 string lined fretless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz_wwawW1PI

Ignore that misleading title! Now that you're here, take two:

A visit to the Barker shop.

This sound track features Hussain Jiffry on a Barker 5 string fretless, on his composition titled "Cannes Tune."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlwGbLXLUWU

Both great clips Lee. I almost think I should get a link from our site to the clip of you in the shop.

Joel

I came across a local Craigslist listing for a Benge Pocket Trumpet. Evidently the breed is also called piccolo trumpet. It looks like what we're hearing played on Andy's YouTube video. Anyway, a Google search of Benge Trumpet reveals stories of this man Lou Duda who designed the horn when he worked for Benge. It's a pretty interesting saga, far removed from Barker Basses, but still another glimpse into the fascinating musical instrument world of which we are all a part. Donald Benge died at the age of 73, hit by a drunk driver. According to an item I found, he was "a very interesting man with wide recognition in coin collecting, gaming and fencing circles."

I know nothing of "Benge" but I know for certain that that isn't a piccolo trumpet. I played trumpet for ten years (only stopped recently, never practiced) and my teacher always had a variety of unusual brass instruments in his house.

His piccolo trumpet had a higher range, and had 4 valves, the 4th being for the intonation adjustments that are present with playing a higher pitched instruments.

What that trumpeter appears to be playing is more of a travel instrument, the standard lengths of tubing wrapped round a few more times. I had a cheapo one myself for taking on holiday etc.

I could waffle on, but I don't want to bore nobody...

Leo Goff with Victor Wainwright.

Sound and video is a bit off synch, but my oh my they got a great audio recording. The bass sounds like, well, it must be one of those whatchacallit, Baker, Proctor, somethin' like that...

I'm sorry, Lee, I don't understand.

Are you saying that there is another Youtube video posted featuring a Barker bass? Was there supposed to be a link to youtube in the post?

Actually my leaving out the link, Tom, was intentional just so you'd post to remind me and I could yet again read your endorsements, feeling deeply rueful that I didn't think of such a clever signature and simultaneously being uplifted by your humor.

The link:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h97yA9-10Mc

Crank the subwoofer.

Kindly,

Lee

I was torn between endorsing Wide Mouth Basses or Fresh Water Basses, but in the end I thought Freshwater was the better catch so I went with them. :eyebrow:

My mother had ties to Apron Strings, so that was an easier endorsement decision; not too much string theory involved there. :smug:

And Yellow Cabs? Well, they had me from "yell-ow." :crying:

p.s. Enjoyed the video. That is just the right look and sound for the blues, isn't it?