Happy Valve Alignment Customer!

Alex Cabrera of Infinity Music playing his Kanstul Flugelhorn

Here’s an email we received from Alex Cabrera of Infinity Music a few days after he visited the shop and got a Bob Reeves Valve Alignment:

Bob,

Thank you so much for spending time with me and getting the alignment straight on my Benge. I started a three night gig at the casino and must say last night was the first night with the new adjustments you made. I must admit that it was free blowing in the upper and lower register and I had enough chops at the end of the 4 set gig to do another 4 set gig. I knowyou said that the horn was way out of whack or if I used your words “YOU DON’T KNOW THIS HORN”. You are absolutely correct!! I did not know it but I must admit I am getting to know it and it is AWESOME. Thank you once againfor setting this horn up correctly. I am sending you my Kanstul Copper bell Flugelhorn next. I have one more trumpet to do the following month then we can start the talks on a custom mouthpiece.

Alex Cabrera
Infinity Music
www.infinitymusic.com

You can read more about the valve alignment on our web site, or feel free to give us a call or email for more information.

Opa Opa On Tour!

We had Oswaldo Bernard, the band leader of L.A.-based latin band OPA OPA, in the shop to pick up a new mouthpiece for a friend (what a great friend, huh!) and have us do some work on his horn.  It turns out he’s taking off to go on tour to Costa Rica and then on to New York for a week. If you are near New York in September, see if you can swing by and check them out. They will be in Battery Park on Sept. 8th and in Tropical Reflections in Brooklyn on the 11th. Check their web site for more details.

One of the best parts about working here at the shop is that when our customers leave with a mouthpiece or a valve alignment, they often leave their CD’s behind! We’ve been listening to both of OPA OPA’s CD’s (Mojaditicos & Los Paisajes) all day and we highly recommend picking them up from either their web site here, or from iTunes.

It was great seeing Oswaldo, and I have to admit it would be kind of nice taking off to Costa Rica and New York for a few weeks, but he didn’t have any more room in his luggage!

Shop Visitors!

John with trumpet players Jeff Kaye and Bryan Lipps

This week we had some great players swing by the shop to get work done! Jeff Kaye dropped by to get a valve alignment on a beautiful old Selmer Paris Bb, and Bryan Lipps tried some mouthpieces out.

Jeff left us with a copy of his exceptional jazz CD “Just Like Me” that have been enjoying all week. My favorite cut so far is Harvey Headbanger. You can pick up a copy of his CD for yourself on Jeff’s web site at http://www.jeffkayejazz.com.

Bryan is hitting the road with Michael Buble, you can check out the tour schedule here and maybe catch one of his shows!

Thanks for visiting guys!

A Visit to Bob Reeves Brass: By Trumpeter Bill Bagnall

Bob Reeves working with Bill Bagnall

“My family’’s summer RV excursion took us to fabulous locations in the Western United States. We visited National Parks such as: Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Hell’s Canyon, The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and more. It made sense then, to complete this tour with a memorable visit to the famous Bob Reeve shop.

I had sent my horn in a couple of weeks prior to our departure for a patented valve alignment. I also had high hopes of leaving California with an arsenal of mouthpieces. You know…souvenirs. The last stop of our trip was an appointment with Bob Reeves. When I arrived, my horn was ready and Bob greeted me with a smile.

His hospitality was evident in so many ways. He spent time with me and insisted that I play my “new” horn in his studio. He explained the process he used to align my valves and basically told me that I now had a horn that would play.

He spent a considerable amount of time with me, which I really wasn’t expecting. He listened to me play, and was able to provide me with valuable feedback. He was able to hear colors in my tone and assisted me in comparing a few mouthpieces.

Bill Bagnall & Bob Reeves, Summer ’09

I first learned about Bob Reeves Mouthpieces while studying trumpet with the late Roy Cummings at the University of Washington. While I’m not a professional trumpet player, I certainly benefited from Bob’s craftsmanship and instruction. My valve alignment and mouthpieces have made noticeable improvements in my playing. I will always recall with fondness my master class with the master, Bob Reeves.”

Bill Bagnall
Bothell, Washington

Pete & Conte Candoli Video

Here’s a great video of trumpet brothers Pete & Conte Candoli playing together. They were both incredible players that I feel lucky to have known through the years. I also had the honor of working with them on their horns and mouthpieces throughout the years. Enjoy!

John Audino Video with the Juggernaut Band

I came across this video of the Frank Capp/Nat Pierce Juggernaut Band with John Audino playing lead trumpet. Also in the trumpet section with him is Pete Candoli, Bill Berry and Al Aarons featured in a solo. Enjoy!

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Carroll Purviance Story

I received this email the other day and thought I would share. I worked with Carroll Purviance for the last 8 years of his life and this story shows how, despite his personal conflicts, he was a master craftsman and respected by the best players worldwide. I am proud to be able to make his mouthpieces using his original tooling and also integrate his ideas into my own line of pieces.

– Bob

“Dear Bob,

I happen to be surfin’ the net the other day, and came across your web-site. Having been once a student of trumpet years ago and my best friend’s Dad was a highly respected trumpet player in the Warner Bros. orchestra from the late fifties to early sixties..(Larry Sullivan), thought I would relay this message:

We, as 12 year old boys, would often accompany Larry on brief  trips to the studio in Hollywood or Glendale to have mouth pieces made. I have memories of Carroll Purviance, hunched over his lathe, maybe slightly intoxicated and weeping, talking to Larry about his life. Later, Larry would always compliment us for not laughing or acting up on the way home. He always made it clear though, that Mr. Purviance was the absolute master at what he does, no matter what his state of mind. Nice to know that his name still lingers and represents this.”

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Chuck Findley Video

Here is an excellent video we came across of long-time friend and customer Chuck Findley playing Nature Boy with full orchestra in Europe. Enjoy!