I Cannot Believe How Fast 25 Years Have Flown By!

By Mike Thompson

In 1983 I attended my first ITG in Ithaca NY where I met Charlie Schlueter , Manny Laureano, Gerald Webster and a new trumpet builder named David Monette. These were the guys that I wanted to sound like and it turns out they were at the head of the line to get the 1st Monette trumpets. Fast forward 25 years, I receive a call from my good friend Dave Monette and he says check your calendar, we’re having a party! Yes it is the 25th anniversary of the 1st Monette trumpet. This event was very relaxed and refreshing. We gathered at the shop during the day, swapping stories, playing music, eating great food, looking at pictures and playing more music. Each night we performed a concert for friends and family.

		Dave Monette's longtime friend Jerry Webster gave a brilliant introduction to kick off the three day event. Watch and listen to Jerry's hilarious stories recounting the events leading up to the birth of the first Monette trumpet!

Day 1

3 part video Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Night one opened with a piece titled “Fanfare for Dave”, written by trumpeter Phil Snedecor. The fanfare covered most of the notes playable on the trumpet and then some. It starts on a concert F below the staff and ended on a D above double high C on the Bb trumpet. Let me tell you it was a kick to play with these guys. I played the low part on my Prana 1 C, Urban Agnas on part 3 playing his Prana LT C, Charlie Schlueter on the top C trumpet part playing his Raja Samadhi and Patrick Hession burning the 8va part on his MF Prana.
Master craftsman Dean Willoughby was up next to present Dave with a beautiful custom cut-a-way trumpet plaque. Just like Monette trumpets this plaque is a one of a kind work of art, beautifully engraved. Dean was assisted by Fred Sautter as he proudly read the inscription.
Beethoven was not big on trumpet trios but thanks to the art of transcription we have this one featuring Joakim Agnas playing his Prana XLT C, his brother Urban with his Prana LT C and myself on my Prana 1 C.
Charlie Schlueter ended the first half of this concert with two pieces by Eric Ewazen. This clip is Mr. Ewazen’s Songs from the Heart. What a beautiful piece that demonstrates the wide palette of colors in Charlie’s sound.
Intermission
The 2nd half opened with Scotty Barnhart and the Gary Hobbs trio. Scotty played his Prana Ajna and demonstrated total control of the instrument. High, low, soft, load and rippin, he has it all. Next Scotty gives the Prana Flumpet a workout. Once again, it is no wonder why this guy has got work. Bravo!
Scotty then welcomed Marlon Jordan, Urban Agnas and Adam Rapa to the stage as they let the audience pick the key of the tune that they were about to compose on the spot. The rest of this set consisted of an exchange of musical dialog between these talented players and an incredible lesson in the art of the plunger by Scotty.

The opening night a blast! Two more to go!

Day 2

6 part video Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

A large crowd was on hand for the 2nd night's concert as we again opened with "Fanfare for Dave." The first clip seen here is John Hilliard’s "Sunrise Fires." Jeff Snyder conducted from the center of the room with four pairs of trumpets, two players in each corner of the shop. They are John Kim, Jerry Webster, Katsu Kameshima, Charles Schlueter, Joakim Agnas, Urban Agnas, Steve Conrow and Mike Thompson.
Charles Gorham performed Honegger’s Intrada on his Prana 1 C trumpet. Not only does he sound great, he is also living proof that the words Gentleman and Trumpeter can be used in the same sentence.
More Beethoven with Joakim, Urban and Mike. This is the missing movement form the first night. I’m moving to Stockholm! What fun!
Charles Schlueter is not only a great trumpet player but he is also one of the great teachers of our time. Take a listen to Charlie with four of his students in a piece titled “Cocktail”, Katsu Kameshima, Toshihiro Kosaka, Dave Bamonte and Jeff Snyder.
Joakim and Urban Agnas once again demonstrate the art of duet.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leroy Anderson, Charles Schlueter and the Agnas brothers perform Bugler’s Holiday. Performed on Monette C Bugles.
Patrick Hession shows us that he can play with control and a beautiful sound in all registers of the trumpet, low, middle, high and OMG!
All I can say about this next clip is: Adam Rapa! This was followed by Carpentier’s Te Deum. We were told, "just bring your C trumpets and play the head. Then hang and play it out after the solo." But Adam must have forgotten that we had our C trumpets as he turned to Urban and said, “Take it.” Listen as Urban plays a great C trumpet solo. Joakim and I took cover in the green room (the mouthpiece packaging room) until the all-clear sign came out.
The next set was under the powers of Ron Miles and the Monette SATTVA in low G. I don’t know how he does it but Ron has total control of the SATTVA and sounds like he grew up playing this instrument. He can play chords on this horn. This thing's in G!
The night ended with an all-star jam including the Gary Hobbs Trio and trumpeters Adam Rapa, Patrick Hession, Urban Agnas, Marlon Jordan and Antoine Drye. The place caught fire and burnt down.

Day 3

4 part video Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Day 3 began with an afternoon of jazz with Ron Miles and the Gary Hobbs Trio. Once again we got to hear Ron on his new SATTVA in low G, and once again we were blown away. Ron’s set was fresh and innovative. Check out the chords he plays at the end. Wow!

All afternoon there was a buzz in the air that Wynton Marsalis may make an appearance. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchesrta was in town for a concert that night. They had a sound check in the afternoon, then Wynton jumped into a SUV and took on the rush hour traffic from downtown Portland to the Monette shop. Wynton walked into the room and you could feel the energy around him. After a short introduction by Dave, he walked up and shook hands with the band and bang, here we go! They played three tunes ending with Cherokee. Hope you enjoy this clip!

Thanks Dave for inviting me to this event and congratulations on the greatest horns and mouthpieces on the planet.

Mike Thompson

Extra Video, Rehearsal Goofs and Funny Moments...

Here are some informal moments during the three days of rehearsals, plus performers being witty, funny and sometimes just plain goofy for the camera. Included is video of Ron Miles playing his SATTVA informally for Wynton just before Wynton's concert.