Serafin Aguilar is one of those rare trumpet players who can play hard swinging jazz solos as well as sizzlin eye opening Lead.

I first heard Serafin with the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band in Pataskala, Ohio at a concert in the impressive Watkins Glen High School Auditorium. That night, the band was totally on as well as "The Boss." Serafin was very impressive with his jazz solos as well as his obvious command of the upper register. It was also touching to see Maynard and Serafin embrace (hug) as Maynard would usually shake a hand or give that oriental bow to his sidemen upon a stellar front stage performance. It was obvious to me that Serafin had a special place in Maynards heart. Serafin is a player who exudes fun and graciousness as he performs.

Serafin Aguilar started in music at the age of 9 singing in choir and shortly thereafter playing the drums. Serafin began playing the trumpet because of a dare from a friend in school. Serafin eventually made his friend "eat musical crow" beating him out in junior high band.

Serafin relates that his Junior High Orchestra Teacher Mr. Davidson was the most prominent musical figure in his life in Junior High. Junior High was a time of musical exploration for Serafin as his dad worked long hours so he would hang out all day in the band room. Serafin learned to play all the musical instruments in the orchestra with the exception of the flute which used to make him "light headed."

Serafin states, "When I got to Belmont High School in Downtown Los Angeles, I had no clue really of what or who was out there musically until one day one of the guys in the marching band handed me a tape of Maynard Ferguson. When I heard Maynard playing Give It One and Pagliacci, I decided I wanted to play that. I had no idea what I was listening to or how to play that way but I knew that's how I wanted to play. I practiced playing along with that tape until I wore it out."

Serafin Aguilars first teacher was his friend Nelson's older brother Freddy Sandoval. Freddy was a very good trumpet player and teacher and he introduced Serafin to the book Twenty-Seven Groups of Exercises For Trumpet Or Cornet by Earl D. Irons.

The next year, Serafin began studying with monster studio player Charlie Davis. Serafin studied the Adams method with Charlie for quite a few months. Serafin used to mows Charlie's lawn and help his wife with landscaping the back yard in exchange for private lessons.

Serafin took lessons from Tony Lujan at the age of 19. Tony taught Serafin range extensions exercises and he was the first true improviser that Serafin got to hang out with. Tony taught Serafin about all the great jazz players from Miles to Coltrane with an emphasis on Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Serafin had already heard about these guys at this point but was taught how to decipher what they were doing musically and the art form of jazz. Serafin states, "I owe him a world of gratitude for this and we are still close friends to this day."

The next two teachers were Boyd Hood and Roy Pauper both of whom Serafin met while at USC ('96-'99). Serafin learned the Jimmy Stamp routine from both of these guys. Serafins association with Boyd was more a friendship (he wasn't actually a student of Boyd's) yet, Boyd would give Serafin exercises to practice. Serafin says ... "great man and great teacher."

Lastly, Serafin states that he has studied with the great Bobby Shew on and off for the past 6 years or so. Bobby Shew has taught Serafin how to play efficiently and how to master certain aspects of his playing that weren't working as well as they could have. Bobby taught Serafin about air flow and how to warm up properly and under 20 minutes.

Serafin has also studied with Uan Racey. Serafin has been playing professionally for the past thirteen years. Serafin is currently playing Lead Trumpet with Dana Owens (a.k.a. Queen Latifah).

Serafin Aguilar states ... "When you think you've practiced enough, practice some more just for good measure. My philosophy is that I'd rather be overly prepared to do a gig than not be prepared enough. One thing to remember is that you always want to have that invincible feeling ... so, practice until you start to feel a little bit of wear. Once you've cross that threshold, put the horn down until you've recharged your battery and hit it again. If you have to break up your routine so that you don't loose that feeling, by all means do it. You never want to teach your chops how to feel and be able to play while you are tired as that will create some very bad habits. Strive to play everything as clean as possible. If you are working on something that is difficult, slow it down until you've mastered it at a slow tempo. Rome wasn't built in a day! It takes time for you body to acquire the muscle memory needed to play difficult passages whether it be a range exercise, dexterity, tonguing, or flexibility. That's probably one of the most important things I have learned right there. For chops I like to practice a few things which in my case seem to hone in my chops nicely. First off, I love the "Iron's" book which I mentioned previously and do exercises 7-9 daily as part of my daily routine. Also I like working on tonguing as it seems to help strengthen my chops. Simple stuff like the Clarke Technical Study Book will do. Slow single tonguing at first eventually working my way to fast double tonguing once again remembering that the purpose is not really to play the exercises as fast possible but rather to play them as clean as possible while pushing the envelope of speed. Clarity first ... speed second. "

Serafins Lead set up is a Professional Model Bach 43* Bb Trumpet with a "Megatone" like Modified Bach 3D and Schilke heavy bottom caps. The MP is a copy of my MP built on a heavy Schilke blank with a modified cup built by Jim New at Kanstul and Bob Reeves. For Jazz (strickly for this purpose only) ... Vintage Bach Vindebona with a Bach 3D or 3C.
Serafin endorses Ultra Pure Valve Oil and Slide Lub.

Serafin Aguilar list his inspirational players as Maynard Ferguson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Chuck Findley, Lee Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Booker Little, Tony Lujan, Piro Rodriguez, Victor Paz, Juancito Torres, Raphael Mendez, Wynton Marsalis, Doc Severinsen (really heavy when I was in H.S. as well as Maynard), Satchmo, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, Bud Brisbois, Wayne Bergeron, Clifford Brown, Blue Mitchell, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Paul Cacia ... and the list goes on.

Serafin Aguilar has performed with the following artist: Maynard Ferguson, Poncho Sanchez (Grammy Award Nomination received for this recording), Esteban, Tito Gomez, Chris Botti, Luigi, Texidor (Sonora Poncea), Yolanda Rivera (Sonora Poncea), Pedro Brull (Orquesta La Mulense), Ray Charles, Billy Preston, Fred Wesley, Fransisco, Aguabella, Pee Wee Ellis, Harry James Orchestra, Herb Jefferies, Ernie Andrews, Marilyn King of "The King Sisters", Lani Kazan, J.P. Morgan, Joey DeFrancesco, James Moody, Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, Bobby Watson, Donald Harrison, Lew Soloff, Steve Turre, Hugh Masakela, Brian Lynch, Conrad Herwig, Jimmy Bosch, John Santos, Joe Arroyo, Roberto Torres, Paquito Acosta, Orquesta Tabaco Y Ron, Makina Loca, Kevin Ceballos, Tommy Olivencia, Maelo Ruiz, Joan Sebastian Jose Manuel Figueroa, Micky Taveras, Charlie Cruz, George Lamond, Fruko Y Sus Tesos, Larry Harlow, Yomo Toro, Bobby Sanabria, La Estrellas De Fania, Johnny Rivera, and La Sonora Dinamita

To contact Serafin Aguilar ... you can visit Serafin's myspace page at MySpace.com/SerafinAguilar