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 #84 - Danny Falcone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:05
Daniel Falcone began working professionally in Las Vegas at age 15. The son of Vincent Falcone, musical director, pianist and conductor for Frank Sinatra, he literally grew up on stage. Starting in high school, Daniel ba…
Episode #83 - Morris Northcutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Morris Northcutt's playing has been described as artistic, lyrical and expressive with a beautiful, smooth, and rich tone. At home in all musical styles from swing to Broadway to classical, this Global Music Award Winner…
Episode #82 - Karl Sievers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:51
Dr. Karl Sievers enjoys a successful and varied performance career, having performed in countless studio sessions, on live television, in jazz ensembles, chamber music of all kinds, solo recitals, and in symphony orchest…
Episode #81 - Matthias Höfs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:10
When he was six years old, Matthias Hoefs declared the trumpet "his instrument, because it shines so nicely". He received his musical education from Professor Peter Kallensee at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatr…
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Duration: 1:05:44
Jim Manley figures he had spent around 10,500 plus nights playing his trumpet around town in his hometown of St. Louis since the 1970's. His recordings have gathered critical acclaim as well and have traveled all over th…
Episode #79 - Bria Skonberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:01
Bria Skonberg is a trailblazing triple threat trumpeter, singer and songwriter. Born in British Columbia, Canada and now residing in New York City, the Juno Award winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album has performed hundreds o…
Episode #78 - Christopher Still - Honesty Pill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
Honesty Pill founder Christopher Still joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Second Trumpet in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony. He has also held the positions of…
Episode #77 - David Elton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
David Elton is principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra since December 2017 and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 2011. David is also a trumpet professor at the Royal College of Music in London, and a member…
Episode #76 - Gary Guthman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:07
Gary Guthman, originally from Portland Oregon, started his career at the age of nine. As a young teen, Gary was a member of the nationally acclaimed "Seldom Six" Dixieland Band, comprised of 12 to 14 years old who travel…
Episode #75 - Tom Clary of Clary Woodmutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:03
Tom Clary is a freelance trumpet-player/composer/arranger/woodworker/mute-maker and sometimes-attorney living in Memphis, Tennessee. Tom was born in Northern Ireland, grew up in South Arkansas and moved to Memphis, Tenne…