A piece of jazz history: Miles Davis’ trumpet in Ascona
Miles owned and performed on a gilt-decorated blue-lacquered “Martin Committee” trumpet in B Flat, Model T3460, made by the Martin Company, circa 1980. Miles enjoyed the Martin Company’s “Committee” trumpets so much that they continued to make custom versions for him even when they briefly paused production. When Miles came out of a five-year performing hiatus, he commissioned three new trumpets, and Jazz trumpeter and technician Larry Ramirez was assigned to the project due to his deep understanding of Miles’s requirements. Ramirez crafted red, black, and blue trumpets with a gilt moon and stars decoration. Larry personally delivered one to Miles just before a major Denver performance, where Miles tested it while pushing the bell into Ramirez’s belly to avoid waking his wife, Cicely Tyson. This became a cherished story that Ramirez often shared. Don Hicks, owner of the Blue LLama Jazz Club, won an auction on October 29, 2019 for one of the three trumpets Miles Davis commissioned. “What (Miles Davis) did by continuing to innovate his whole life, he was always pushing the bounds. It doesn’t matter if you are a musician, a business person or both, never giving up and always pushing yourself, I mean, how is that not inspiring?” —Don Hicks
The trumpet can be seen at the Blue LLama Terrace from June 20 to 29 (see map).
MILES DAVIS LIVE IN GERMANY 1988 PLAYING THE MOON & STARS TRUMPET:
KEYON HARROLD ON THE MILES DAVIS MOON & STARS TRUMPET:
In partnership with:
