Gabriel Johnson: You've Got to be Real with People. Ep. 159

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Makers of the finest handcrafted #trumpet, #trombone & #frenchhorn mouthpieces since 1968. Visit https://bobreeves.com to find your next mouthpiece and trumpet accessory! Gabriel Johnson went to the Monterey Jazz Festival at 9 years old - by himself - and witnessed Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard on stage. He went home, switched instruments to the trumpet, and the rest is history. Gabe learned to play the trumpet by ear, playing along to Miles Davis, learning "the excitement inside the sadness." A glimmer of hope for Gabe during a difficult childhood. Self taught until later in high school, it wasn't until he was at the New England Conservatory when he learned that what seemed second-nature all along was in fact perfect pitch. A chance encounter with Chris Botti on Gabe's last night in Boston before moving to Los Angeles led to a friendship of over 20 years, and pivotal connections including meeting the manager of Blood, Sweat & Tears, who invited him to be the band's musical director for a year. From hanging out with Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford, to learning recording techniques and producer psychology from David Foster, Gabe has built a remarkable career full of originality and spontaneity, covering soundtracks, jazz, pop and more. With AI creeping into musicians' livelihood, Gabriel has some pertinent advice: individual artist expression is something that can never be replicated, whether by artificial intelligence or another human. Be yourself, be creative, be original. The rest will follow. About Gabriel Johnson:  Gabriel Johnson is an American jazz trumpeter whose lyrical sound and deep musical fluency have earned praise from artists, including David Foster, Clint Eastwood, and Chris Botti.  Gabe studied at New England Conservatory and then moved to Los Angeles and built a wide ranging career as a solo artist, session musician and featured performer. Recording and performing with artists such as Gladys Knight, Steven Tyler, David Foster, Chris Botti , Andrea Bocelli, Lyle Lovett, and Burt Bacharach, he was featured by Clint Eastwood as a trumpet soloist on the film scores for Changeling and Invictus, and has released a substantial catalog of recordings on his Sunset Horn label, blending jazz tradition with cinematic electronic and modern production influences. Episode Links: Website: www.gabrieljohnsonmusic.com Bandcamp: https://gabrieljohnson.bandcamp.com YouTube:    / gjtrumpet   Apple Music:   / gabriel-johnson   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gjtrumpet/?... Bob Reeves Brass Events and Appearances: William Adam Trumpet Festival July 9-12, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill. Book your trumpet alignment here: https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/product... Podcast Credits: “A Room with a View“ - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Photo Credits - Courtesty gabrieljohnsonmusic.com Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg 00:00 Introduction and Trumpet News 02:49 A Life-Changing Experience at the Monterey Jazz Festival 06:06 Self-Taught: The Power of Playing by Ear 11:50 The Transition to Formal Education 21:13 Auditioning for NEC 30:42 Discovering Perfect Pitch and Composition 39:40 Meeting Chris Botti and Career Shift 46:47 Working with Clint Eastwood 54:49 Parenthood and Career Choices 01:00:07 Collaborating with Legends: Insights from the Studio 01:05:51 Advice for Aspiring Artists: Finding Your Space 01:09:45 Evolving Practice Routines and Personal Growth 01:17:22 Mouthpieces and Instruments #TheOtherSideOfTheBellTrumpetPodcast, #BobReevesBrassMouthpieces, #JohnSnell, #trumpetpodcast, #trumpet, #MilesDavis, #MontereyJazzFestival, #perfectpitch, #ClintEastwood, #ChrisBotti, #jazztrumpet, #musicaldirector