Episode #127 Clay Jenkins

Episode #127 Clay Jenkins

Author: Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces March 5, 2025 Duration: 59:56

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, educator and recording artist Clay Jenkins, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:
 
"Clay Jenkins Trumpet Interview"

 
About Clay Jenkins:

 Clay Jenkins is a renowned jazz trumpeter and educator whose dynamic career spans decades of performance and teaching. He launched his performing journey with the Stan Kenton Orchestra before moving to Los Angeles, where he toured and recorded with the big bands of Buddy Rich and the Count Basie Orchestra.

A charter member of the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Clay has amassed over 100 recording credits, released seven solo albums, and recorded as a co-leader with many other notable names. Since joining the Eastman School of Music faculty, in Rochester, NY, in 2000, Clay has continued to perform worldwide, while mentoring the next generation of jazz musicians.

Inspired by his close friendship with the late trumpet legend Eugene "Snooky" Young, he established the Snooky Young Endowed Scholarship at Eastman, and is currently writing a biography of Young's life. 

Clay is wonderfully warm, down-to-earth and humble. If you listened to our last episode featuring Emile Martinez, you'll know that Clay was instrumental in guiding Emile on his artistic journey, and so how appropriate it is that we can follow up on that interview with this one today.

And he's a lifelong practicer. Clay is always trying to improve, and it's inspiring to hear someone at his level still talking about what they go through every day, trying to better themselves. 

Episode Links:

"Hope Beats" - YouTube series with Clay Jenkins (trumpet), John Clayton (bass), Larry Koonse (guitar), Gene Bertoncini (guitar), Joe La Barbera (drums)

Quasimodo, by Charlie Parker

Grizzly, by John Clayton

Podcast Credits:


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 #114 - Yturvides [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:46
This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter Yturvides, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. You can follow Yturvides on the following social platforms : Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, X(Twitter), and…
Episode #113 Chris Botti Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:36
This episode of "The Other Side of The Bell" is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Please enjoy this conversation with John and world-renowned trumpeter, Chris Botti. Chris was featured back in Episode #24, and now agai…
Episode #112 LA Trumpet Ensemble with Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:48
Welcome to Episode #112 of "The Other Side of the Bell", a podcast brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. In this episode, John talks with Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell about their recently released album called "Homage"…
Episode #111 David Washburn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:29
This podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Join us at Dillon Music, November 9-11 for valve alignments and mouthpiece consultations. Email sales@dillonmusic to schedule an appointment! David Washburn is a Yamaha…
Episode #110 - Mike Price [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:07
Mike Price is a professional trumpet player, formerly living in Tokyo, Japan. He composes and performs with the Mike Price Jazz Quintet or Orchestra. Originally from Chicago Illinois, he was a student of Vincent Cichowic…
Episode #109 - Bill Bing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:39
William Bing has recently retired as Director of Bands and Artist in Residence at the California Institute of Technology. During that time, he conducted over 250 concerts with the Caltech Jazz and Concert Band. He also s…
Episode #108 - Chris O'Hara [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:16
Chris O'Hara is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, a chamber musician, and educator. His playing is described as "virtuosic and impressive in every way" (Chicago Music Examiner), and "a treat beyond measure" (A…
Episode #107 - Courtney Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:28
The newest directions in 21st Century trumpet performance are being explored and defined by Courtney Jones, an award-winning Bach performing and recording artist who has also emerged as a leading figure in contemporary p…
Episode #106 - Marissa Benedict [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:51
Marissa Benedict was born in San Francisco, California and raised in Marin County where she started playing piano at age 7, violin at age 9 and trumpet at age 10 (studying with Joe Alessi, Sr.). She continued playing all…
Episode #105 - Roy Wiegand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:03
Roy Wiegand is a versatile and renowned trumpet player in the Los Angeles area. He has toured and performed with such well-known acts as The Who, Bobby Womack, Tom Jones, Mel Torme, Harry James Orchestra, and Wayne Newto…