Vinnie Ciesielski – Trumpet Interview
Welcome to the show notes for Episode #93 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Vinnie Ciesielski.
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About Vinnie Ciesielski
Attending Towson University in Maryland, Vinnie Ciesielski majored in music performance on trumpet, which he has played professionally for over 50 years.
Since coming to Nashville in 1992, Vinnie has played on over 6000 recordings with artists such as Lady A, Lacy Kaye, Dave Barnes, Lance Neilson, Jeremy Lister(Street Corner Symphony) Fame Gang, Lyle Lovett, Travis Tritt, Tracy Byrd, Smokey Norful, Tanya Tucker, Glenn Frey, T.D. Jakes, Byron Cage, Little Milton, Marvin Sapp, Jill Scott, Hezekiah Walker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Gregg Allman, Kirk Franklin, Queen Latifah, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, Demi Lovato, Grace Potter, Delbert McClinton, Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift, The Clark Sisters, Thomas Rhett, Nuno Betencort, Marcus Scott(Tower of Power) Steven Tyler, Vince Gill, Michael MacDonald, Keb Mo, Johnny Taylor, Bobby Blue Bland, Via Con Dios, Martina McBride, Don Was, Zac Brown band, Foy Vance, Terri Clark, Chely Wright, Stevie Nicks and many more. He has performed live with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Kid Rock, Keith Richards, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, Sting, Tony Bennett, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Kenny Rogers, Shelby Lynne, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Shawn Colvin, Eddie Floyd, Booker T. and the MGs, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Bob Hope, Frankie Valli, Sheryl Crow, Adrian Belew, Bruce Hornsby, Michael Macdonald, Carrie Underwood, Jenifer Nettles and The Beach Boys. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, The Road, SoundStage, Disney and Universal TV specials, Nashville Now, Music City Tonight, Austin City Limits, Grand Old Opry, Rosie O’Donnell, Ellen’s Really Big Show, The Dove Awards and The Stellar Awards. Vinnie has also performed on numerous Radio, Internet, TV and Movie sound tracks and Trailers. Vinnie has performed with the Nashville Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Orchestra Kentucky, Nashville and Knoxville Jazz Orchestras
Well known in the performance and recording community, Mr. Ciesielski’s resume includes work on over 6000 recording sessions, 50 Grammy-nominated and 25 Grammy-winning recordings and dozens of Stellar and Dove awards. Vinnie has also been the horn arranger on multiple Grammy, Dove and Stellar nominated and winning recordings.
Vinnie Ciesielski Links
Podcast Credits
- “A Room with a View“ – composed and performed by Howie Shear
- Audio Engineer – Preston Shepard at SC Sound Labs
- Cover Art – Phil Jordan
- Podcast Host – John Snell
Howie Shear received a Bachelors in Education from Fredonia State University in 1975 and a Masters in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music in 1977. He studied with James F. Burke and Raymond Crisara. Howie toured with the Woody Herman Band as lead trumpet player & featured soloist in 1980. After the tour he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a studio musician and soloist. Among the extensive list of artists he has worked with are: The Chuck Mangione Orchestra, Tony Bennett, George Benson, Mel Torme, Reno Jones, The Temptations, and The Spinners. He was the musical arranger and lead trumpet player on the Joan Rivers Late Night Show. Howie has also played various shows at the Ahmanson Theater and many jazz festivals around the world where he has held trumpet clinics. Arranger and producer of various jazz albums, Howie currently has his own jazz quartet. His classical work includes playing with brass quintets and choirs, solo church work, and solo work in the studios.
Paul Litteral was born and raised in Western Kentucky and by the fifth grade he knew that he was going to play the trumpet. After high school, he wanted to play in the Naval School of Music, so he auditioned, was accepted, and then enlisted in the Navy. After some time in Virginia, he was invited to join the band at the duty station in New York City and, when the Navy consolidated its bands at the War College in Rhode Island, he moved there. Having completed his four year tour of duty, Paul left the Navy and returned to New York.
Currently, Paul is playing trumpet and flugelhorn with Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous8. Angela founded the band in 2016 and Paul is one of the original members. He plays a Maxx II trumpet designed by Charles Colin and manufactured by Kanstul Company. When he wants a darker, lower tone, he switches over to flugelhorn, a perfect choice for ballads and medium tempo tunes. His flugelhorn is a Custom Z from Yamaha. Even though he toured much of the world while playing with the Uptown Horns, he still enjoys travel and particularly wants to spend time in Italy, Spain and Ireland. When taking a break from playing music and writing, he enjoys freshwater fishing, primarily as a catch and release fisherman. Asked about favorite foods, Paul’s tastes are eclectic—he likes Asian and Indian cuisine but also loves a great steak.
Born in Luxembourg, Philippe Schartz developed an early interest in the trumpet from listening to his father play in the village wind band. His passion was cultivated by his teachers who have included Dino Tomba, a great friend and mentor. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Music in London with the late David Mason, and then was invited to join the Special Student programme at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
An enthusiastic member of the teaching staff at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Cardiff University, Philippe has given master-classes/recitals
Inspired by the great valve trombonist BOB BROOKMEYER, Barry Mosley is keeping the legacy of playing jazz valve trombone. The first important jazz valve trombonist were JUAN TIZOL and BRAD GOWANS in the 1930s and 1940s, setting the stage for others. The valve trombone has a unique place in jazz history.
RIM
Dan Rosenboom is an internationally recognized trumpet player, composer, and producer. He is known as a prolific member of the Los Angeles creative music scene, having released more than 25 albums of original music as a solo artist and bandleader and has supported over 60 artists across nearly 90 releases on his label, Orenda Records. Rosenboom frequently performs in Hollywood Studios for major film and television soundtracks, highlighted by the latest Star Wars trilogy, with such notable composers as John Williams, Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, and Alexandre Desplat. He has also performed often with such elite ensembles as the LA Philharmonic, the LA Chamber Orchestra, and the LA Opera. His own music eschews genre distinctions and draws from such disparate influences as jazz and Black American Music, metal and experimental rock, contemporary classical music, folk music from around the globe, and a broad range of progressive music from the avant-garde. He studied at the Eastman School of Music, CalArts, and UCLA, where he earned advanced degrees in music. The Los Angeles Times has called Dan Rosenboom “a musician dedicated to exploration and expression, regardless of anyone’s imagined boundaries,” and “a phenomenon.”
Philip Lassiter is an 11-time Grammy award winning horn/string arranger, and former section leader/arranger of Prince and the New Power Generation.
Steve Shires is best known in the brass world as the founder of the S. E. Shires Company, crafter of custom trombones and trumpets. His passion for designing and building brass instruments grew from his love of playing the trombone. Steve received his undergraduate degree in trombone performance from the University of Iowa, where he studied with John Hill and George Krem. A true trombonist, he skipped theory class to apprentice as a brass repair technician at West Music Company in Iowa City and was soon developing his craft by converting old small bore tenor trombones into alto trombones. While continuing his trombone studies in Chicago with legendary Chicago symphony brass section members Arnold Jacobs, Edward Kleinhammer, Frank Crisafulli, and Jay Friedman, he worked for the Schilke Music Company, learning the art of spinning brass instrument bells, as he absorbed the high standards of quality that Schilke represents. In 1986, Steve and his wife Cathy relocated to Boston. It was there that he gained much of his knowledge of the Horn, working for Osmun Brass Instruments, the nationally respected shop for horn repairs and restorations. It was here that Steve gained the invaluable experience of rebuilding valves, cutting bells, and restoring Geyer, Kruspe, Conn, and Paxman horns.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Philharmonic trumpeter Boyde Hood received his BM degree in trumpet performance from the Eastman School of Music and master of music degree in theory and composition from Ball State University. He is a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and performs regularly with the Philharmonic’s New Music Group and the Philharmonic Brass Trio. Mr. Hood has played principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theater and has recorded extensively for major motion picture and television studios. He has been a member of the Dallas and Milwaukee Symphonies, assistant principal of the Rochester Philharmonic, and first trumpet with the Marlboro Festival Orchestra.
Since his retirement from the LA Philharmonic and USC, Boyde taught at the Eastman School of Music for one Semester, has resumed his compositional activities, and continues to teach privately from his home and on Zoom.
Timothy Higgins was appointed to the position of Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony by Michael Tilson Thomas in 2008. He was previously the acting Second Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. Mr. Higgins, a Houston native, has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Aspen Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Washington National Opera, and Baltimore Symphony. His principal teachers have been Michael Mulcahy (Chicago Symphony), Michael Warny (Houston Grand Opera), and Royce Landon (Des Moines, Iowa). He has participated in music festivals with the Roundtop Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Center.
Along with a busy orchestra career, Timothy Higgins is a sought after arranger of music. He was the sole arranger of the National Brass Ensemble’s Gabrieli recording. Additionally, he has arranged music for CT3 Trombone Quartet, National Brass Quintet, Bay Brass, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Brass Ensemble. Timothy Higgins has also composed works for brass instruments in solo and chamber settings. His arrangements and compositions have been performed by the Washington Symphonic Brass, the Bay Brass, the San Francisco Symphony brass section, the Chicago Symphony brass section, the Los Angeles Philharmonic brass section, and numerous university brass ensembles. His arrangements and original compositions are available through his publishing company, 415Music.
In 2005, Timothy won the Robert Marsteller Solo trombone competition, as well as the ITA Trombone Quartet competition with CT3. While attending the Tanglewood Music Center, Mr. Higgins was awarded the Grace B. Upton Award for Outstanding Fellow. In 2013, Timothy released his solo CD, Stage Left.
James Morrison is, by anybody’s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays piano, all the brass, saxophones, and double bass.
James has been appointed a member of The Order of Australia, he is a Doctor of the University at Queensland Conservatorium of Music and has received a Doctor of Music from the Edith Cowan University Western Australia and the University of Adelaide. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia and Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow. In 2015 James founded his own academy of music in Mount Gambier, South Australia. The James Morrison Academy of Music @ UniSA is an innovative school dedicated to teaching jazz and offering both a Bachelor Degree and post graduate programs. This exciting initiative involves educators from all over the world, transforming young musicians’ lives with inspiration and a love of jazz. In 2017, the JMA partnered with The Juilliard School in New York City to offer an exclusive Honours Program.
Highlights of 2016 included a recording at Abbey Road Studios with the BBC Concert Orchestra for international release, sold out performances at the Prague Proms, Berlin Philhamonie, Budapest Music Centre and the Lionel Hampton Club in Paris, two sell-out return performances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, two Australian tours, two European tours, a season with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a hugely successful solo tour all over the USA including the Miami Beach Jazz Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Party, performances with John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton and the One O’Clock Lab Band and, of course, International Jazz Day at the White House with the President of the United States.