Jazz Trumpet Licks

I wanted to share this smokin Jazz trumpet solo of Tom Harrell with the Phil Woods Quintet. When I was watching this Jazz video I noticed how Tom Harrell rests his fingers over his trumpet valves. I’m wondering if this helps his technique overall on the trumpet. According to how he sounds in the Jazz clip I’m going to have to say that it helps him quite a bit.

This great recording of Tom Harrell took place in Hamburg of 1988. I have one problem though, I’m not sure what the name of the tune is. If anyone could help me out on this it would be greatly appreciated.

Freddie Hubbard takes a great Jazz trumpet solo on Cantelope Island. If you are interested in getting the DVD it’s One Night With Blue Note. This is actually one of Freddie Hubbard’s most famous trumpet solos. One of the things I love about Freddie Hubbard is how much he really gets into his solos and moves around a lot. I believe that this is one of the things Freddie Hubbard is most known for in the Jazz world, a lot of movement while playing his trumpet solos.

Another thing about this Jazz trumpet video, is you can really hear how Freddie Hubbard uses a lot of space in the beginning of his trumpet solo and then gradually builds it from there.

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This whole tone pattern alternates between 4ths and whole steps going down. Because this Jazz whole tone pattern alternates between 4ths and whole steps, you won’t be able to stay in one whole tone key.

Hear a sound sample played on trumpet:

How to memorize this lick in 12 keys:

Once again since this is a whole tone pattern, you will only need to learn this lick in two keys depending on which note you start on. From whatever note you decide to start on, just remember this simple formula:

Fourth, whole step, fourth, whole step, etc…

It’s that easy. You can play as much as the pattern as you’d like. It’s completely up to you. The whole tone pattern above sounds good over Dominant chords and modal tunes.

This is a well known Jazz lick you hear a lot of Jazz artists play in different variations. A trombone player I used to work with in Seattle was kind enough to show me this easy lick.

Here is a sound sample played on trumpet:

How to memorize this ii V7 I lick in 12 keys:

This lick starts off with an A minor arpeggio starting on the 5th and ending on the 5th. So whatever key you are in just know that you will start on the 5th of the ii chord. Then I think of what key I’m in knowing I’ll be hitting the raised tonic then down to the 5th again then the regular tonic with a half step into the 3rd of the V7 chord. Know that the first 3 notes of the V7 chord is just diminished going up until you hit the tonic of the V7 chord and go to the b9 down the G scale and landing on the 3rd of the I chord.

I know this sounds kind of confusing. I really don’t think of all those instances when memorizing this ii V7 I lick. This is the short version of memorizing the lick. Think minor arpeggio starting on the 5th, know it goes to the raised tonic, then up diminished to the b9 and down the scale ending on the 3rd of the I chord.

This is my first post for JazzTrumpetLicks.com. What better way to start it off than with a great Jazz trumpet video of Tom Harrell playing with Philippe Catherine. This Jazz trumpet video displays one of my favorite trumpet solos of Tom Harrell. Though I have many favorite trumpet solos of Tom Harrell, this particular trumpet solo is a very relaxing one. You can hear how Tom Harrell uses a lot of pentatonics in the solo. This is partly due to the fact that Tom Harrell is a big pentatonic player to begin with.

Just for your information, the performance took place back in 2003.