Further to my recent speculation re that ace Polish pocket trumpet player Janusz Carmello, I received an interesting comment and some local newspaper cuttings related to some gigs Janusz did with the River City Jazzmen (now the River City Hot Six). They don't throw any further light on Janusz but they do serve to remind us of what a superb trumpet player he was.
My memory may be playing fanciful trucks but I'm sure that, when he was in town and I was working in J.G. Windows Ltd., enquiries about pocket trumpets would go up the following day! I seem to recall we sold one or two.
Here's Gordon's remarks: I heard a few years ago that Janusz had died, but there seems to be an element of doubt, if he did there was no publicity. As you know he played pocket trumpet in the Clifford Brown style, but he could also play really good traditional jazz. He came up to Newcastle three times and guested with the River City, courtesy of his good friend Randy Heads, with whom he always stayed. It would be nice if he was still around.
Thanks Gordon, let's hope we can have an update - Jurich would have known! Lance
4 comments :
Pardon my ignorance, but I read this as a comment on the stature of the player, rather than the trumpet. I therefore anticipated what I thought was a clever gag in your comments about JG Windows!
To my shame, Professor Google has corrected me...
...pocket trumpets, plastic trumpets - whatever next!
My faux pas now corrected! 'Polish pocket trumpet player' not pocket Polish - well spotted.
Our experience with Janusz at Blaydon was similar to Gordon's River City. He came several times arranged by Randy Heads with whom he stayed. Such a lovely player and very popular at Blaydon. I've not heard anything for quite a few years.
Roly
I bought "Portrait" some years ago and I wrote to Janusz via the Musicians Union asking if he would let me know the maker of his Pocket Trumpet. He sent me a postcard saying it was a Benge with "a very large and deep Bach mouthpiece, for a mellow and open tone" and inviting me to phone him sometime for a more informal chat.
I called him and we spent well over an hour talking about horns an jazz.
I know he was an active table tennis player and he did tell me in a later email that he was going to undergo heart surgery.
I really hope that, like Mark Twain, reports of his death are greatly exaggerated.
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