Episode #102 - Christine Kamau

Episode #102 - Christine Kamau

Author: Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces May 10, 2023 Duration: 53:57

Christine Kamau is a Trumpeter, Composer and Performing Artist from Kenya. Her Trumpet playing has been described as 'a wide-eared approach to jazz, paying attention to various styles without losing the jazz tonality'. Kamau credits her musical influences to Hugh Masekela, Maroon Commandos, Miles Davis among others.

In 2012, Christine Kamau released an 8-track instrumental Afro-Jazz album titled 'This is for You'. The album offers an exciting listening experience, the music being a fusion of jazz with African music elements of 'Benga' and Rhumba'. This debut release earned positive reviews from the music community and also saw Kamau featured on a BBC music program titled 'Africa Beats' a series that showcased emerging music talent from Africa.

A keen collaborator and campaigner for music as a tool for propagating unity, and having graced various stages around the continent, Christine Kamau has established a name on the African Jazz scene.


There's a whole world of sound that happens before the music reaches the audience, a space filled with the clatter of valves, the whisper of breath, and the shared stories of a unique community. The Other Side Of The Bell-A Trumpet Podcast invites you into that world, offering a backstage pass to the realities of brass life. Hosted by the team at Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces, this series goes far beyond simple gear talk. Each episode feels like a conversation in the practice room, blending practical trumpet tips that address the daily hurdles players face with deep-dive interviews featuring the musicians themselves. You'll hear firsthand stories about the craft, the unexpected challenges of performance, and the personal journeys that shape an artist's sound. This podcast is built on decades of specialized knowledge, translating the nuanced experiences of embouchure, articulation, and endurance into accessible insights. Whether you're a student navigating your first orchestral audition or a seasoned professional refining your approach, the discussions here are grounded in real-world application. It’s about the person behind the instrument as much as the instrument itself, creating a genuine resource for anyone passionate about the trumpet. Tune in for a blend of technical wisdom and personal narrative that only comes from a lifetime spent listening from the other side of the bell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode #94 - Mary Elizabeth Bowden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:42
Classical Trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden has built a rapidly ascendant career as a soloist, praised for her "splendid, brilliant" playing (Gramophone Magazine) and the clarity, purity, and power of her sound. A Gold Med…
Episode #93 - Vinnie Ciesielski [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:45
Attending Towson University in Maryland,Vinnie Ciesielski majored in music performance on trumpet, which he has played professionally for over 50 years. Since coming to Nashville in 1992, Vinnie has played on over 6000 r…
Episode #92 - "Hollywood" Paul Litteral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:37
Paul Litteral was born and raised in Western Kentucky and by the fifth grade he knew that he was going to play the trumpet. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a musician, Paul began to build his career in New York, play…
Episode #91 - Philippe Schartz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:35
Born in Luxembourg, Philippe Schartz developed an early interest in the trumpet from listening to his father play in the village wind band. His passion was cultivated by his teachers who have included Dino Tomba, a great…
Episode #90 - Philip Lassiter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:30
Philip Lassiter is an 11-time Grammy award winning horn/string arranger, and former section leader/arranger of Prince and the New Power Generation. Currently based in L.A., Philip has quickly garnered respect as the go t…
Episode #89 - Boyde Hood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:05
A native of Dallas, Texas, retired Los Angeles Philharmonic trumpeter Boyde Hood received his BM degree in trumpet performance from the Eastman School of Music and master of music degree in theory and composition from Ba…
Episode #88 - James Morrison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:59
James Morrison is, by anybody's standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays trombone, piano, saxophone and double bass. At the age of six he started on p…
Episode #87 - Steve Dillard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:57
Steve Dillard is a professional freelance trumpet player, founder of the popular HornTrader website, and an educator. Steve's first love has always been playing trumpet. Starting with his early work playing at Disneyland…
Episode #86 - Adrian Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:16
Trumpeter Adrian Kelly has built an international career as a multi-faceted musician; performing, recording, and writing pop, classical, and jazz music. Adrian is currently working towards a PhD at the Western Australian…
Episode #85 - Simon Sweeney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:36
Simon Sweeney is a professional trumpet player and educator based in Sydney. He is a studio musician and has been prolific in the live music scene since 1993. As a member of the Jazz Faculty at the Sydney Conservatorium…