A Happy Day: Derek Smith

Many years ago, I played this Erik Leidzen cornet solo at Salvation Army band camp. I think I got a second place in the solo competition. I never amounted to much on the cornet, but I learned enough to appreciate the awesome gift that Derek Smith regularly displayed in his cornet artistry. And so this rendition is one of my favorites. By today's standards, there are better cornet players - probably his son Phil is a good example. But no one before or since, in my opinion, has played with the style and grace of Derek Smith.