The Lead Trumpet Player
Being a great lead trumpet player means a lot more than having good high chops. A competent lead player also needs to don the confidence and consistency in interpreting the written music while leading the band stylistically.
All who learn these skills do so in basically the same way – by studying the masters. As such, if you are interested in improving your lead playing, the Terry Gibbs Dream Band is required listening and play-along material. Improve your chops, reading, section playing and lead style by learning from the best of the best – legendary lead trumpeters Al Porcino, John Audino and Ray Triscari.
These charts are clear, straight-forward and easy to read. They are also some of the hippest big band arrangements you’ll ever hear.
‘Love this book!’
‘Great practice’
‘Superb collection!’
‘Super fun and well done’
‘Where has this been all my life?’
“This is an amazing tool and I’m so glad it finally exists!”
‘This book presents a wealth of opportunity for improvement.”
‘Amazing resource for all trumpet players, especially lead trumpeters!’
‘I can’t express what a breath of fresh air this has brought to my practice routine.’
“Superb teaching aid for players that want to enjoy playing the lead book. This book helps enormously!”
*** Charts are printed in small batches and only available while supplies last ***
Donny Albrecht –
This book is an amazing resource for all trumpet players, especially lead trumpeters! It is quality from start to finish, I will be recommending this book to all my students! Or anyone who is interested in getting within the style of the band, working on their reading, section playing, or just keeping up their chops. Awesome work!
Rodney Shedenhelm –
Great way to keep the chops in shape with the lack of playing opportunities. Thanks!!
Thomas Lee –
Especially during these Covid times, a tool such as this is a great way to hone the array of skills necessary to playing lead trumpet in a big band, without actually playing in a big band. From sight-reading to the finer points of style, this book presents a wealth of opportunity for improvement.
Madison Sneath –
Not being able to play in big bands has been the worst thing about social distancing for me. Although nothing can compare to playing in person, it is so much fun so play these charts along with the recordings. I’ve been striving to improve my sight reading too, and this book has so much great material to do that with. This must’ve been such a lengthy project! Thank you! (Great readability too! And I love your sense of humor!)
Jason Levi –
I consider all 6 of the Dream Band albums the most swingingest band of all time, like if I was stuck on a desert island with only one big band album I’d have a hard time deciding which of them to have. Al Porcino and John Audino are absolute masters at the style and if you STUDY this book and absorb this music into your soul it will GREATLY improve your own style and facility in this genre. This is an amazing tool and I’m so glad it finally exists!
Michael Barkley –
I can’t express what a breath of fresh air this has brought to my practice routine – thank you James for compiling such a wonderful collection of lead charts. Well edited, clear type setting – superb effort! Thanks, James, this is most impressive and welcome round here. I wish you a great success with this book – it is excellent!
Ron –
Exactly as described. Clear notation. Easy to read.
Michael Thomas –
Superb teaching aid for players that want to enjoy playing the lead book. (no easy or quick way to learn) This book helps enormously! Mike Thomas
David Reinhart –
Lovin’ it ! Can’t stop to write too long…gotta go back and play some more. Yeah baby !
Carl Saunders –
I remember driving around in the early 60s listing to the Terry Gibbs Explosion album. I couldn’t get enough of it. Mel Lewis and Al Porcino. They played so together. That was in Las Vegas where i kind of grew up. Years later when I moved to L.A. in 84 I started playing the lead trumpet chair with Bill Holmans great band. Being a jazz trumpet player Bill liked my lead playing because I played with a jazz concept that regular lead players didn’t and couldn’t do. Holmans band was a “jazz band” which was right down my alley. We were doing a concert with Holmans band and Terry Gibbs came up to me on the break and and asked me if I would play the lead book on his band which he called the “dream band” I of course said yes and became Terry’s lead player too. Terrys band was also a jazz band and I kind of grew up listening to Terrys band so I fit in well and had the concept he wanted. It was wild,, a be bop trumpet player like me playing lead with my two favorite bands . Of course Holman was one of the major writers for the dream band so I was right at home. The other band I played the lead book on was the Johnny Mandel band which of course was another of my all time favorite writers. Through the years the personnel in the trumpet section in all 3 bands was the section I had in Holmans band.. The way I set up the section was 2 jazz players on the outside 3rd and 4th chairs and the 2nd chair I had guys that were actually stronger than me and I would pass the bombastic lead parts to them and I would play all the tight and swinging charts. During the second decade of 2000 James Blackwell came on Holmans band and took over that bombastic 2nd chair. It was very important to have the right cat on that chair that didn’t have a big uncontrollable ego which lead players were known to have and be there for the sake of the music and support my jazz concept as a team player and James filled that position very nicely. James had the range and power that I didn’t have and he balanced the demands of that chair by playing the harder and pounding ensembles with the power necessary to do it but always supported me tastefully when I was playing the lead parts. So when I played with Terrys dream band I of course brought the same section with me that we had on Holmans band. During that era of time Holman, Gibbs and Mandel had the same trumpet section. It worked out well. I liked playing with James and I think he liked playing with me or at least I hope he did. I don’t know if playing with the dream band influenced him to produce the dream band transcriptions book or not but the lead trumpet community i’m sure is gratified that he did. I am… Lead players can now play along with those great and classic charts.. It’s a beautiful thing and thank you James Blackwell for taking the time and having the ability to do it. It was a real dedication .. Lead players… Get the book. Playing through those charts will make you a hipper player.. James left us west coasters for the east coast and we miss him.. Get his book you’ll dig it. Carl Saunders
Chris Cermak –
This is a fantastic collection of lead trumpet charts from some very swingin albums! Highly recommended for anyone looking to work on their lead trumpet playing or their reading.
David –
This book is Great for anyone who plays trumpet!!!!! You won’t be disappointed and listen to some of the charts on YouTube!!👍🎺
Tom Bender –
This book is a great source for lead players who want to “Stay in shape” through these current times or for trumpeters who want to see what it’s like the lead chair. Yes, you are always at the mercy of the composer/
arranger who may not know/care about the nature or care of the brass player’s embouchure, but Terry’s arrangements are tasty, aware, and musical. I recommend this book highly in all volumes.
Bill Karow –
The Dream Band recordings are amazing, such a great band, great charts, and incredible lead playing. The lead trumpet transcriptions book is an amazing resource! Just having a chicken scratched version would be enough, but you knocked it out of the park with superb engraving, meticulous editing, and even printed it on thick, quality paper. EVERY lead player should own this book. Thanks so much!
Douglas Miller (verified owner) –
Best Christmas Present … ever…
I just got the last of the six CDs in the mail today not knowing that your Lead Trumpet transcriptions were available.
I was actually looking to see if there were any more Terry Gibbs Dream Band CDs available when I ran across your Lead Trumpet transcriptions. The digital version is perfect for listening to the CDs and following along with the Lead part. The printed version is great to sit on the music stand to play along with the CDs. I am just an amateur player who has been playing in Big Bands for the last 25 years. I finally get to be the Lead Player on every chart… 🙂
Thank you so much,
Douglas Miller