tuba-related content: Walt Johnson

[Ed Jones]

Thank yewww. Than yew vurry much!

[bisontuba]

Walt was also Frank Sinatra Jr's lead trpt player....great player!

[The Bone Ranger]

I did an "Elvis" gig here in Australia in the mid-2000's. Elvis was on the big screen, and it was advertised as his "original band," whatever that means...

An older American trumpet player sat directly behind me (bass trombone) on the rehearsal earlier in the day. He was polite, but went through the motions in the rehearsal, every note down an octave or two. Myself and the locals around me just assumed "oh well, it's the original band, I guess he's not what he once was"

Then came the gig. The standard opening tune. CC Rider.

Oh. My. Lord!

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, some of the strongest, most powerful lead trumpet playing I'd ever heard exploded behind me. It was astonishing. The local trumpet players nearly wet themselves! Power, range, style, energy. Incredible.

And all three feet from the back of my head! I still have the dent to prove it!

It wasn't until the interval that I learnt it was Walt Johnson. It was a masterclass in power trumpet playing.

I'll never forget the look in everyone's eyes after that first tune!

Andrew