I grew up in the South, in New Orleans, where guys torture you all the time. So I didn't really grow up on the self-esteem campaign. When you were lousy at something, they told you you were lousy, and they told you how to fix it.
Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.
I didn't want to get that ring around my lips from practicing the trumpet, because I thought the girls wouldn't like me. So I never practiced.
I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that time.
The nerves are a problem on trumpet, because when you mess up everyone can hear it. Just remember most people are too polite to say anything about it. That should calm your nerves.
The heart of a music is its rhythm. The heart of rhythm section music is the rhythm.
