Malcolm McNab is quite possibly the greatest trumpeter in the world that you've never heard of. I recall a friend of mine back in 2008-09 timeframe putting in Malcolm's CD Exquisite, and being unable to believe what I was hearing. The range, the accuracy, the musicality.
My friend said something along the lines of, "This is the guy who played the lead part on Jurassic Park."
"Oh," was my reply.
Why is it I've never heard of this guy?!
One of this life's great injustices is that the musicians on those movies we've grown up with do not get proper credit for their work. The music makes or breaks the movie. Any director or producer will tell you that.
The Hollywood scene is not one with which I have any familiarity, so I'll keep further judgment to myself. But suffice it to say I'm grateful to be able to share some of Malcolm's thoughts with y'all listening into the podcast.
We began talking about the great Raphael Mendez, including an incredible story from his childhood that very well could have contributed to him being such a kind and generous person on and off the stage.
And talking with a great master of his craft, the conversation naturally drifted into pedagogy, as well as some cool stories of Malcolm's interactions with some of the elite Hollywood directors and producers, including Steven Spielberg making a cameo appearance playing clarinet on Jaws.
Yes, it's that kind of episode.
Enjoy!
BTW, I have an extremely limited number of Malcolm's CD's available FOR FREE. Yes, no cost. Malcolm had some of his CD's with him at the conference, and he told me to just give them out to people.
So tune in to the very end of the episode to learn how you can get a copy of one of Malcolm's CD's for free (if you can pay for shipping, it's appreciated but not required.)
Episode highlights:
-The incredible story of Raphael Mendez being conscripted into Pancho Villa's army as a child...04:20
-Raphael's firing from a studio gig became the catalyst for his great solo career...08:30
-Raphael's story as told in an opera has sadly been lost to posterity...13:36
-How Malcolm continues his legacy by passing on his knowledge to others with lessons and camps...21:22
-Looking for the "sweet spot" with the tone and pitch...28:52
-If you can master the physical side of playing, it naturally has a positive effect on your mental and spiritual wellbeing...32:30
-Breaking into the Hollywood music scene and making connections with some of the great filmmakers...45:51
-The future of "Camp McNab" in wake of the pandemic's devastating effects...57:38
-Suffering in life comes full circle years later...1:05:48
-Plus whatever your discerning ears deem worthy of your time and interest...
Body + Mind + Spirit = Mastery. Now available is a collection of excerpts from some of the most popular episodes of the Trumpet Dynamics podcast featuring the likes of Chris Coletti, Sergei Nakariakov, Manny Laureano, and more.
It's a FREE download available right now on brassmastery.com!
About the Guest:
Malcolm Boyd McNab was born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 25th 1943. That summer, his family moved out to California where he was raised in the San Gabriel Valley. He began studying the trumpet at the age of nine, with his father Boyd McNab as his first teacher. Later, he studied with Pasadena trumpet teacher Walter Laursen, and performed with the Pasadena Symphony at the age of fourteen while still a student at Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra.
In 1958 at the age of 15, Malcolm began playing with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra under conductors Dr. Miklos Rosza, Lawrence Foster, Gerhard Samuel and Henry Lewis. He soon became the Principal Trumpet and librarian for the Pasadena Symphony under Dr. Richard Lert.
It was at that time that Malcolm began his studies with James Stamp, leading him to a most valuable path which he has followed for the past 55 years.
After touring with the San Francisco Ballet and service in the U.S. Army, playing with the West Point Band, he studied privately with John Ware and William Vacchiano of the New York Philharmonic.
On returning to Southern California, McNab began working as a session musician as well as playing live solo performances with various regional orchestras. Since 1970, he has recorded classical music with such organizations as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the New York City Opera. As a member of the California Chamber Symphony, Malcolm appeared as a soloist with Aaron Copland in his Quiet City. In a note to Malcolm, he wrote, "to Malcolm McNab, who plays trumpet like few - very few!"
His recording credits in popular music include albums with Dionne Warwick, Peggy Lee, Chicago, and the Carpenters. He has also toured with and recorded albums with Frank Zappa including Joe's Domage, Studio Tan, Grand Wazoo-Live in Boston and Imaginary Diseases. From 1975 until its demise in 1988, McNab played trumpet with the experimental session group, the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra.
It is the soundtracks of popular films and television shows which have made Malcolm McNab's playing familiar to hundreds of millions of people who have never heard his name. He has been in the 1st trumpet chair for John Williams on 46 scores recorded in Hollywood.
In November 2006 Malcolm released his first solo album titled Exquisite-The Artistry of Malcolm McNab. His second solo album The Infinite Trumpet was released in 2010.
He has also given solo performances on the soundtracks of such television shows as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, and Highway to Heaven, and has been featured as a solo artist on many movie soundtracks.
His solo trumpet is featured on soundtracks such as: Dances with Wolves, Avalon, Crimson Tide, City Hall, In Country, Glory, Twister, Executive Decision, Independence Day, Con Air, Rudy, The Last Castle, Air Force One, The Postman, Cars, U.S. Marshals, Renaissance Man, Toys, Planes: Fire & Rescue, Maverick, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, L.A.Confidential, Hidalgo and Bridge of Spies 2015. McNab has performed on the soundtracks of over 2,000 films and television including:
E.T, Jaws, Indiana Jones (2-4), (9)Star Treks, Karate Kid (1-3), Field of Dreams, Pretty Woman, Hoffa, Home Alone(1-3), Hook, Beauty and the Beast, The Rocketeer, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Chronicles of Narnia, Jurassic Park(1-3), Wyatt Earp, First Knight, Far and Away, Spiderman(1-3), Toy Story(1-3), James and the Giant Peach, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc, The Matrix, Planet of the Apes, War of the Worlds, Godzilla, Polar Express, The Sixth Sense, Pirates of the Caribbean (1-4), Tin Tin, Monsters University, Star Trek-Into Darkness, War Horse, Mission Impossible(3&4), Monsters University, Inside Out, Tomorrowland and Jurassic World.
In addition to movie and TV soundtracks, Malcolm can also be heard nightly on the NBC and CBS network news themes.
In 2006, Malcolm portrayed the trumpet sound of virtuoso trumpeter Rafael Mendez, appearing in the Los Angeles Opera production of Concierto Para Mendez, a one act opera which told the story of the life of the trumpet virtuoso. The performance featured the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, opera soloists, trumpet soloist and narrator.
In February 2015 Malcolm was presented the Young Musicians Foundation's Magic Baton award. The award was presented to Malcolm by Randy Newman at the YMF 60th Anniversary Gala.
Malcolm is presently Artist in Residence at Azusa-Pacific University. He has also found time to teach trumpet at UCLA, Pomona College, Claremont College and branches of the California State University. His 4th annual summer trumpet workshop, Camp McNab, took place at Azusa- Pacific University in July/August 2015. Malcolm has twice been the recipient of the Most Valuable Player Award of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
For more information, please visit www.malcolmmcnab.com
Mentioned in this episode:
CTA
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