Lots of practice, lots of listening...and many great teachers!! And always knowing that there's still lots more work to do!! Thanks for your kind message!
Thank you so much! I actually haven't re-looked at this audition in 7 years, so it was fun to look back on it today...and I'm really glad it's of some help to you. I really appreciate you writing in, and I hope music is bringing you the same joy it brings me. P.S. - If you're curious, you might want to check out my band, RIPE: ripetheband.com/
bigeyezzzzzzz I’m trying to get on your level haha, I’m only a junior in high school, but this shows what’s still possible at my age. I hope you’re doin well man, how couldn’t you though? Trumpet is the best, and I can’t imagine how enjoyable it is at that level. Who knows though, maybe I’ll meet you in person one day 😂. You’re awesome bro, thanks for the reply, and go share music with the crowds, you’re a beast, anyone would love to hear you! 👌🏾
@@nathanjackson3730 Wow, I hope that I can, one day, live up to all of your praise! And I wish you all the very best with your trumpeting progress. The more time you can put into focused practice, the more progress will be made. All the best to you, Nathan!
To see these young men playing such a mature style - it's fantastic. *Very* mature playing - across the entire group. Josh, of course is brilliant - it's like hearing a group of seasoned old jazzers! Great recording. :-)
@erockinthereal The trumpet and the flugelhorn are both made by CarolBrass. You can read all the details if you click on the downward arrow right under the video's view count above.
@Thecooljazzguy Wow, thank you so much. I also draw inspiration from those who are my peers, so I know exactly where you're coming from. Thanks again for taking the time to write...your message sends me to the shed too!
@OlesonMD Thanks very much for your kind comments. The trumpet mouthpiece I'm using is a Yamaha Miyashiro 1, and the flugel mouthpiece is a Jet Tone gold-plated magnesium "B" model, which was hand-made by Bill Reichenbach. Thanks again for your feedback!!
@OlesonMD I met Steve Wiest at last year's Grammys and we communicated quite a bit of the possibility of me going to UNT. However, after being in the Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop last summer and then receiving a four-year/full-tuition scholarship from Berklee to start this coming Fall, I decided the east coast was really where I wanted to be. Thanks again for your kind words....
watched this video today after nine months and this is amazing! I got into jazz trumpet myself about, well 9 months ago and I can appreciate your playing even more. I bet your playing is even better now.
I happen to stumble upon your watching a recent Yoshi's Tower of Power piece (2011) and clicked on a couple of your pieces. Wow! I don't know much about music but I do know when I hear something really special. You're it. Good luck and hope you continue to work your magic here in the East Bay. Way to represent Josh!
Hey, thanks...I continue to work hard every day....and I listen to so many different people, from Clark to Woody to Miles to Freddie to Bobby to Paolo Fresu to Roy to Ambrose to Christian Scott to Clifford to Arve Henriksen....and so many more!!!
@thechenggang The Grammy Jazz Ensemble is now called, "Grammy Camp - Jazz Session". To find it, go to the grammyintheschools website, then click on "Programs", then on "Grammy Camp - Jazz Session". Good luck, it was an amazing experience!!
@WaltersQuincy Thanks for your kind words. You're right about video cameras not being very good in the sound department, and my video camera is no exception. Which is why we had Logic Pro recording the sound at the same time the camera was rolling, and then had a great engineer mix and sync the Logic Pro audio with the videotape. The other reason the audio sounded so good is that my mic is a Neumann U67 tube microphone from the 1960's, and it is truly a great piece of equipment!
@beChoiii Hey Brandon! The trumpet I used for this video audition is a CarolBrass trumpet, and I also play a Yamaha Shew 8310Z trumpet. They're both excellent horns!
Great job last night at the valentine's day late show, standing in for Mic at Tower's show at Yoshi's. A few clams, sure, but your teacher should be very proud! We're the family who said hi behind the club. You reminded me of the first time I heard Steve Bernstein play when _he_ was a 17 year old student at Berkeley High. Keep up your studies (and practice your scales!). Best of luck.
@GreennGold126 Thank you for your nice words! There is no one particular answer to your question, but what I can say is that, to build range, I do lots of long tones, going from low to as high as possible, all the while focusing on the embouchure and using my air as efficiently as possible. Also, when playing, instead of thinking of your air going into your mouthpiece, think of it being blown OUT of your bell. Hope that helps!
@andrewoc15 Wow, that's a lot of viewing! Thanks for your kind words. The microphone is a very rare, very old, very special tube mic from the 60's...it belongs to a recording engineer friend of mine...it's a 1966 Neumann U67 condenser mic, and it is an incredible mic to use for recording trumpet and flugelhorn. I try to use it for anything important that I ever have to record!! Thanks again for writing....all the best to you...
@GLkamina121 Thanks for writing! Transcribing solos from some of the greats (Clifford, Clark, Dizzy, Miles, Freddie, Wynton) is an excellent way to learn. Be sure to write down the solos and the chord symbols, and then learn to play the solo yourself. That way you train your ear and you also see why they chose the notes they played...and you learn to play in the style they played in.
Well, I don't know about that...I'm working on it every day. This audition was from 2010, and I actually was playing a CarolBrass trumpet for that audition. I don't remember the model numer...I think it was a special one they put together for me.
@theizzle320 Thanks so much, man, I appreciate your thoughts. And you're right about the "out" thing. I guess I'm first wanting to play "in" as well as I can first.
@brassperfectionist Thanks for writing. The horns are relatively new to me, and I absolutely love them! They're made by CarolBrass, and the USA distributor is Doug Teeter - dteeter5491@att.net or 1-559-436-5247. To see more details about this video, just click on the words right below the video, where it says, "This is Josh Shpak's 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensemble Audition..."
@MrNoobforlife Thanks for your very kind message! If you click on "Show More" just under the video, and then scroll down, there's a bio that tells about my teachers, who include Clark Terry, Bobby Shew, Dann Zinn, Mic Gillette and Michael Miller.
hey man, this is sick! Your ideas and especially your phrasing are really really good. I don't really feel too qualified to give you criticism since i haven't been playing all that long, but one thing i would say from listening to this and some of your other videos is that i'd like to hear you play "out" sometimes. I know this is an audition video but a few "out" licks could really make your solos pop. I know you have the confidence and the chops to pull it off!
Having grown up listening to Clark, the influence of his style is definitely there! Great musicianship...a good role model for many young (and old) players!!! What mouthpiece do you use?
Hi josh, I'm a high school trumpet player and can I just say I really enjoy your playing and u inspire me to get better. Do you have any tips for someone starting to improvise?
Wow...thanks so much for your kind words. I'm just trying to work as hard as I can to hopefully get better every day. And that's the main thing with improv...it's something you have to do every day. The Aebersold and Hal Leonard playalong are great tools, and what's really important to do are transcriptions. I don't mean play a transcription that someone else did. I mean..do your own transcriptions of some of your favorite solos by your favorite jazz artists. Write down the notes they play, and include the chord symbols in the bars so that you can see why they chose the notes they chose. Doing all of that will go a long way toward getting you going. Also, having a private improv teacher in your area would really help more things along. Hope that helps, and thanks for writing :)
Today I discovered that you allready studio-recorded the 'I.R.Clifford'. Very well done! Very impressive Interpretation, esp. solo! But, when it comes to these beautiful, touching slooow Jazz ballads, it's easy to "overdo". Esp. in the standard-part register. These kind of ballads, even the notation is quite simple, lives, no, gently covers the listners -only- from feeling, sentiment and expression. Quite near to romantic classical compositions, That's when 'Jazz' comes the nearest to Bach, Beethoven and Co.. But there comes the risk: Many jazz players don't have a classical music background, and play ballads too static, uninspired. They undervalue the top-difficulties of clean tonal expression, don't have any idea of tonal variations. Anyway, you and the wonderful combo members, did a very, very well job. Especially the "Clifford" solo part was one of the finest I ever got the chance to listen to. Only the written standard part should just be focused on cristal-clear sound and expressions. Guess, Roy Hargrove did it well here: Roy Hargrove - I Remember Clifford - Even a Counter to fast. But, that's the way Slide Hampton wanted it to sound, I guess. Pity, never heard Wynton M. playing the "I.R.Clifford". Guess, he could be the ultimate.
Ahhh....so you found this very old recording from when I was in high school! Thanks for your feedback and your insights. You are clearly quite knowledgeable, and I appreciate your very interesting input!
This is great! And Congratulations! What camera did you use to film this? I have a hard time finding a camera that accuratley captures the trumpet sound... How'd you get the audio so good?!?!?!? Great job again!!!!
Hey Josh, Have you considered attending college at the UNT School of Music? It's the home of the world famous (Grammy nominated) 1O'Clock Lab Band. Many fine trumpet players/teachers here, including Jay Saunders who was the lead trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. UNT is the largest, and IMO, the best music school anywhere. Check them out on UA-cam! Cheers, Myron
Annotation: Even it sounds quite odd. Pls. listen to an "progenitor" of todays ballad jazz. Well, at least for me it seels like it. - Pls. listen to a guy name's Johann(es) Hieronymus (von) Kapsberger. Of course he's not a modern Jazz interpreter, because he's Born and lived in Venice 1580 and died in Rome 1651. Unbelievable how (some) these -new recorded- compositions fit into Jazz ballad genre. A musicologist introduced me to his (renaissance) music. Really inspiring. And yes, some "tunes" are as well Flugel playable as well.
Wondering how I can get ahold of your recording engineer here in the Bay Area to do a similar recording for my daughter's college application. She will be in your old Monday Night Band this year at the jazz school.
After graduating from high school, Josh attended the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and is now a busy producer, songwriter and studio trumpet player in Los Angeles. He also played trumpet, French Horn, keyboards, EWI, as well as sang background vocals on Peter Gabriel‘s world tour in 2023 and appears on Peter‘s latest album “i/o”.
Wow, this is 8 years ago, you should be pretty good by now. You play great, but I don't like your rendition of this song I Remember Clifford. I feel you strayed too far away from the beautiful melody. Good playing, nice tone.
Lots of practice, lots of listening...and many great teachers!! And always knowing that there's still lots more work to do!! Thanks for your kind message!
@jazzkeys44 Thanks so much. The Grammy band was an amazing experience!!
You’re so good man....it’s inspiring to me as a trumpet player. Go show this world what you can do! ✊🏾
Thank you so much! I actually haven't re-looked at this audition in 7 years, so it was fun to look back on it today...and I'm really glad it's of some help to you. I really appreciate you writing in, and I hope music is bringing you the same joy it brings me. P.S. - If you're curious, you might want to check out my band, RIPE: ripetheband.com/
bigeyezzzzzzz I’m trying to get on your level haha, I’m only a junior in high school, but this shows what’s still possible at my age. I hope you’re doin well man, how couldn’t you though? Trumpet is the best, and I can’t imagine how enjoyable it is at that level. Who knows though, maybe I’ll meet you in person one day 😂. You’re awesome bro, thanks for the reply, and go share music with the crowds, you’re a beast, anyone would love to hear you! 👌🏾
@@nathanjackson3730 Wow, I hope that I can, one day, live up to all of your praise! And I wish you all the very best with your trumpeting progress. The more time you can put into focused practice, the more progress will be made. All the best to you, Nathan!
@JazzNaySean It was good to get your feedback...thanks for writing.
@LionEagle58 Thank you very much!!!
To see these young men playing such a mature style - it's fantastic. *Very* mature playing - across the entire group. Josh, of course is brilliant - it's like hearing a group of seasoned old jazzers! Great recording. :-)
@erockinthereal The trumpet and the flugelhorn are both made by CarolBrass. You can read all the details if you click on the downward arrow right under the video's view count above.
Thanks for your kind words...
@Thecooljazzguy Wow, thank you so much. I also draw inspiration from those who are my peers, so I know exactly where you're coming from. Thanks again for taking the time to write...your message sends me to the shed too!
Very nice work, Josh! I enjoyed listening to you a lot.
@OlesonMD Thanks very much for your kind comments. The trumpet mouthpiece I'm using is a Yamaha Miyashiro 1, and the flugel mouthpiece is a Jet Tone gold-plated magnesium "B" model, which was hand-made by Bill Reichenbach. Thanks again for your feedback!!
Hey, thanks! When that video was made, I had been playing for 7 years. Thanks for writing...
Thanks so much...it was very kind of you to write in!
@OlesonMD I met Steve Wiest at last year's Grammys and we communicated quite a bit of the possibility of me going to UNT. However, after being in the Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop last summer and then receiving a four-year/full-tuition scholarship from Berklee to start this coming Fall, I decided the east coast was really where I wanted to be. Thanks again for your kind words....
@bhl123 Wow! Coming from you, Mr. Lynch, that is an incredible compliment. Thank you so much...I'm a BIG fan of yours!
@clskmstg Well, thank you! Chase's group is such a pleasure to perform with!!
Very precise rhythm, beautiful tone and warm. Really fun to listen to you.
watched this video today after nine months and this is amazing! I got into jazz trumpet myself about, well 9 months ago and I can appreciate your playing even more. I bet your playing is even better now.
I happen to stumble upon your watching a recent Yoshi's Tower of Power piece (2011) and clicked on a couple of your pieces. Wow! I don't know much about music but I do know when I hear something really special. You're it. Good luck and hope you continue to work your magic here in the East Bay. Way to represent Josh!
@tumbleweed94 Thanks so much!!!
WOW A GREAT BAND HERE FOR SURE I LOVE IT ALL
Hey, thanks...I continue to work hard every day....and I listen to so many different people, from Clark to Woody to Miles to Freddie to Bobby to Paolo Fresu to Roy to Ambrose to Christian Scott to Clifford to Arve Henriksen....and so many more!!!
Thanks so much...I'm still working away every day...!
Thanks so much!
Well, thank you!
@thechenggang The Grammy Jazz Ensemble is now called, "Grammy Camp - Jazz Session". To find it, go to the grammyintheschools website, then click on "Programs", then on "Grammy Camp - Jazz Session". Good luck, it was an amazing experience!!
@WaltersQuincy Thanks for your kind words. You're right about video cameras not being very good in the sound department, and my video camera is no exception. Which is why we had Logic Pro recording the sound at the same time the camera was rolling, and then had a great engineer mix and sync the Logic Pro audio with the videotape. The other reason the audio sounded so good is that my mic is a Neumann U67 tube microphone from the 1960's, and it is truly a great piece of equipment!
Great playing Josh, really nice improvising! Keep up the good work buddy! You have a great career ahead!
@beChoiii Hey Brandon! The trumpet I used for this video audition is a CarolBrass trumpet, and I also play a Yamaha Shew 8310Z trumpet. They're both excellent horns!
Great job last night at the valentine's day late show, standing in for Mic at Tower's show at Yoshi's. A few clams, sure, but your teacher should be very proud! We're the family who said hi behind the club.
You reminded me of the first time I heard Steve Bernstein play when _he_ was a 17 year old student at Berkeley High. Keep up your studies (and practice your scales!).
Best of luck.
@ehscymbals011 Yes, it definitely is (as you know!), and thanks for your kind comments!
@DRUMMERAL100 Thanks so much!
@GreennGold126 Thank you for your nice words! There is no one particular answer to your question, but what I can say is that, to build range, I do lots of long tones, going from low to as high as possible, all the while focusing on the embouchure and using my air as efficiently as possible. Also, when playing, instead of thinking of your air going into your mouthpiece, think of it being blown OUT of your bell. Hope that helps!
@andrewoc15 Wow, that's a lot of viewing! Thanks for your kind words. The microphone is a very rare, very old, very special tube mic from the 60's...it belongs to a recording engineer friend of mine...it's a 1966 Neumann U67 condenser mic, and it is an incredible mic to use for recording trumpet and flugelhorn. I try to use it for anything important that I ever have to record!! Thanks again for writing....all the best to you...
@GLkamina121 Thanks for writing! Transcribing solos from some of the greats (Clifford, Clark, Dizzy, Miles, Freddie, Wynton) is an excellent way to learn. Be sure to write down the solos and the chord symbols, and then learn to play the solo yourself. That way you train your ear and you also see why they chose the notes they played...and you learn to play in the style they played in.
@shivercanada Thank you!!!
Well, I don't know about that...I'm working on it every day. This audition was from 2010, and I actually was playing a CarolBrass trumpet for that audition. I don't remember the model numer...I think it was a special one they put together for me.
@theizzle320 Thanks so much, man, I appreciate your thoughts. And you're right about the "out" thing. I guess I'm first wanting to play "in" as well as I can first.
wow, enjoyed this tremendously!
@brassperfectionist Thanks for writing. The horns are relatively new to me, and I absolutely love them! They're made by CarolBrass, and the USA distributor is Doug Teeter - dteeter5491@att.net or 1-559-436-5247.
To see more details about this video, just click on the words right below the video, where it says, "This is Josh Shpak's 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensemble Audition..."
@MrNoobforlife Thanks for your very kind message! If you click on "Show More" just under the video, and then scroll down, there's a bio that tells about my teachers, who include Clark Terry, Bobby Shew, Dann Zinn, Mic Gillette and Michael Miller.
Man, you sound great! Especially on Clifford. Your rhythm section is killin too.
I hope you're still playing! Great work!
You sound amazing man. I particularly enjoy your solo on Billie's Bounce. Keep up the great work!
wow this is amazing your are truely amazing.
hey man, this is sick! Your ideas and especially your phrasing are really really good. I don't really feel too qualified to give you criticism since i haven't been playing all that long, but one thing i would say from listening to this and some of your other videos is that i'd like to hear you play "out" sometimes. I know this is an audition video but a few "out" licks could really make your solos pop. I know you have the confidence and the chops to pull it off!
Excellent
Nice work. Keep on.
pretty good man! I hope to be like you one day.
Wow dude, I was shocked you lived in Walnut Creek, I'm in Livermore. I personally prefer classical over jazz, but you play great man!
Having grown up listening to Clark, the influence of his style is definitely there!
Great musicianship...a good role model for many young (and old) players!!!
What mouthpiece do you use?
Hi josh, I'm a high school trumpet player and can I just say I really enjoy your playing and u inspire me to get better. Do you have any tips for someone starting to improvise?
Wow...thanks so much for your kind words. I'm just trying to work as hard as I can to hopefully get better every day. And that's the main thing with improv...it's something you have to do every day. The Aebersold and Hal Leonard playalong are great tools, and what's really important to do are transcriptions. I don't mean play a transcription that someone else did. I mean..do your own transcriptions of some of your favorite solos by your favorite jazz artists. Write down the notes they play, and include the chord symbols in the bars so that you can see why they chose the notes they chose. Doing all of that will go a long way toward getting you going. Also, having a private improv teacher in your area would really help more things along. Hope that helps, and thanks for writing :)
Today I discovered that you allready studio-recorded the 'I.R.Clifford'. Very well done!
Very impressive Interpretation, esp. solo! But, when it comes to these beautiful, touching slooow Jazz ballads, it's easy to "overdo". Esp. in the standard-part register. These kind of ballads, even the notation is quite simple, lives, no, gently covers the listners -only- from feeling, sentiment and expression. Quite near to romantic classical compositions, That's when 'Jazz' comes the nearest to Bach, Beethoven and Co..
But there comes the risk: Many jazz players don't have a classical music background, and play ballads too static, uninspired. They undervalue the top-difficulties of clean tonal expression, don't have any idea of tonal variations.
Anyway, you and the wonderful combo members, did a very, very well job. Especially the "Clifford" solo part was one of the finest I ever got the chance to listen to. Only the written standard part should just be focused on cristal-clear sound and expressions.
Guess, Roy Hargrove did it well here: Roy Hargrove - I Remember Clifford - Even a Counter to fast. But, that's the way Slide Hampton wanted it to sound, I guess. Pity, never heard Wynton M. playing the "I.R.Clifford". Guess, he could be the ultimate.
Ahhh....so you found this very old recording from when I was in high school! Thanks for your feedback and your insights. You are clearly quite knowledgeable, and I appreciate your very interesting input!
This is great, I must have watched it 100 times. What microphone are you using for trumpet?
WOW your amazing what made u progress and what guided u to get better?
This is great! And Congratulations! What camera did you use to film this? I have a hard time finding a camera that accuratley captures the trumpet sound... How'd you get the audio so good?!?!?!? Great job again!!!!
Hey Josh,
Have you considered attending college at the UNT School of Music? It's the home of the world famous (Grammy nominated) 1O'Clock Lab Band. Many fine trumpet players/teachers here, including Jay Saunders who was the lead trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. UNT is the largest, and IMO, the best music school anywhere.
Check them out on UA-cam!
Cheers,
Myron
Annotation: Even it sounds quite odd. Pls. listen to an "progenitor" of todays ballad jazz. Well, at least for me it seels like it. - Pls. listen to a guy name's Johann(es) Hieronymus (von) Kapsberger. Of course he's not a modern Jazz interpreter, because he's Born and lived in Venice 1580 and died in Rome 1651.
Unbelievable how (some) these -new recorded- compositions fit into Jazz ballad genre. A musicologist introduced me to his (renaissance) music. Really inspiring.
And yes, some "tunes" are as well Flugel playable as well.
Awesome...I will check him out!
i hear you...
Is that your family playing with you? You and the drummer look like you could be related. Sounds good!
Thanks for the private answer.
i love u
Is that a carol brass horn? and you sound great!
Who do you listen to? recommendations?
But hey man, you sound awesome. I wish I had skills like you!
What kind of horn are you playing on?
hey josh!! it's brandon choi from cbda! just wondering, but what kind of equipment do you play on besides the carol flugel?
Wondering how I can get ahold of your recording engineer here in the Bay Area to do a similar recording for my daughter's college application. She will be in your old Monday Night Band this year at the jazz school.
Woah Chase Morrin is ur pianist. Lucky you
Agreed!!!
I want to be like that when i get get older!!! Sooo bad (only in middle school)
@clskmstg ~ Isn't it though!!
Хотелось бы узнать как сложилась творческая жизнь музыканта после окончания учебы.
After graduating from high school, Josh attended the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and is now a busy producer, songwriter and studio trumpet player in Los Angeles. He also played trumpet, French Horn, keyboards, EWI, as well as sang background vocals on Peter Gabriel‘s world tour in 2023 and appears on Peter‘s latest album “i/o”.
@@bigeyezzzzzzz , thanks for information, good luck!
Wow, this is 8 years ago, you should be pretty good by now.
You play great, but I don't like your rendition of this song I Remember Clifford. I feel you strayed too far away from the beautiful melody. Good playing, nice tone.