Trumpet Player Craig Johnson of
New York City

Trumpet Player Craig Johnson is currently one of New York's most in demand freelance trumpet players. Craig Johnson grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana and attended The University of North Texas from 1985 - 1989, playing lead trumpet in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band his final two years at North Texas. While in Texas, Craig also played in the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and the Dallas Cowboy Band for two seasons. Craig spent a summer in the 1987 All-American College Orchestra at Disney World.

For 4 years, Craig studied trumpet with the great Don "Jake" Jacoby, and still carries Jake's influence with him. Craig also began several years of periodic study with trumpet guru Bobby Shew. Craig relates that a big debt of gratitude is owed to these two great trumpet teachers for their help and influence with his development as a trumpet player. Says Craig, "Jake's teaching was largely about using your air "it's not the most important thing, it's the ONLY thing," Jake would say. He stressed using a mass of air for volume and speed of air for register ... and also pushing students to project the sound through the horn and out in front of the horn not up for higher notes. This way of thinking seems simple, but it's amazing the power that it has. It really works.

After trying most of Bobby Shew's concepts, I combined Jake's stuff with the "wedge breathing" and aperture control. Bobby always stressed the idea of keeping your aperture open as you go up. It definitely opens the sound up, and if the wedge is behind it (or air power in general) it can really open things up. I know Maynard thought this way (he's also the one that originally referred Bobby to the yoga breathing book that led to the "wedge breathing technique").

Some recommended trumpet books include the Ernest Williams method (similar to Arban's), Colin and Earl Irons lip slur books, Herbert L. Clarke Studies, Concone Lyrical studies. If you can find "Jake's Method" I would highly recommend it. For lead players, spend time playing jazz and learning jazz phrasing. Play or transcribe solos to get a good jazz feel and do tons of listening. For sight reading play through (not practice) anything you can get your hands on with a metronome. One great thing to read is tenor sax jazz etude books (such as Lennie Neihaus and others) because they are in the upper register and difficult. Above all be easy to work with and have an unselfish, fun attitude.

Craig started a two and a half year stint with Maynard Ferguson's Big Band in the fall of 1989. Craig was the lead trumpet player at the formation of the Big Bop Nouveau Band that fall, and played lead trumpet on the "Live in London" Album. Toward the end of 1993, Craig moved to New York City to start a freelance trumpet career, and did some tours with Jerry Lewis and two years with Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

TRUMPET PLAYER CRAIG JOHNSON

TRUMPET PLAYER CRAIG JOHNSON
Performs with Maynard Ferguson

Trumpet Player Craig Johnson has become a much sought after side man in New York City, staying busy doing Broadway Shows, single engagements, and recording sessions. Craig is a member of several jazz orchestras, including John Fedchock's New York Big Band, The Westchester Jazz Orchestra, and Mike Holober's Gotham Jazz Orchestra . In recent years, Craig has also played or recorded with the New York Voices, the John Pizzarelli Band, the Woody Herman Jazz Orchestra, Chuck Mangione Feels So Good Orchestra, Audra MacDonald, the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Caldwell, Chico O'Farrill, the Gene Krupa Jazz Orchestra, Paul Anka, Aretha Franklin and numerous others. Recent Broadway credits include The Producers motion picture soundtrack, Fosse, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Monty Pythons Spamalot and the Radio City Christmas Show.

Trumpet Player Craig Johnson plays an older Yamaha 6335S Bb trumpet from about 1984. Relates Craig, "I played this horn in College and then switched to the Yamaha 6310 (picked out by Bobby Shew) before going on the road with Maynard in 89. I played different versions of the Yamaha 6310 for those 18 years or so. I have a Yamaha 636b (the Bob McCoy/Bobby Shew horn) that is the predecessor of the Yamaha 6310 that has a darker core with a red brass bell. I also have played a Bach 72 lightweight but I've always felt more at home on the Yamaha.

I play a Yamaha piccolo trumpet with a Monette custom piccolo mouthpiece that makes a huge difference. I play a Conn Flugehorn that was made by Cuesnon in the 60's that is a beautiful horn as well as a Yamaha 635S. The Cuesnon has a beautiful sound, and the Yamaha is a bit more stable for certain jobs.

Trumpet Player Craig Johnson has played Dave Monette's mouthpieces since the fall of 1989. Relates Craig, "My first tour with Maynard took us near Chicago, and on an off day, Walter White and I went and hung out with Dave for the day at his shop. We worked from scratch and carved up what became the BL-2. I played it the next night and it was incredible. It really changed things for me it made playing so much easier. I haven't switched mouthpieces since, and now Monette mouthpieces are very popular. The pitch center is totally even in all registers. A few years later we opened the BL-2 up slightly around the rim and added a little more bite, and he called it the BL-2J. That's what I'm still playing ... the LT (lightweight) version.

I also use other BL-2 Monette variations that Dave has made for me over the years when needed: a C type cup w/the same rim for a darker legit sound; a slightly enlarged BL-2J that is sort of a middle of the road mouthpiece; a flumpet cup trumpet piece that is great for soft dark stuff or Chet Baker-ish jazz playing. I've been very fortunate to have a friend like Dave over the years who makes such amazing equipment. "