TRUMPET PLAYERS AND THEIR STORIES

CARL SAUNDERS LIVE

    Carl Fontana used to call Carl Saunders “The best trumpet player you never heard”. Quite a compliment coming from the great Fontana! Carl and I met in Las Vegas when I was in the Army (NORAD Band). We used to play at Nellis AFB there and then we’d hit the strip after our gig was finished. First time I heard and met Carl, he was playing in the section of the Jimmy Cook big band at THE BLACK MAGIC club. I could immediately hear his influence from Don Fagerquist’s playing. Don was also one of my own main influences so I know Carl and I were gonna be good friends...and WE ARE! We have been “thick as thieves” since around 1961. We played on almost every band in LV together, we were on Buddy Rich’s newly formed band, we both worshipped the writing of Bill Holman, we both loved to stay up all night and “jam”. We both like to play the drums and we both hate bad drummers!!

So, as you can tell, I love the guy and his playing. I have learned a lot being around him these forty-five plus years. I can’t imagine a jazz scene without him. He stayed buried in Las Vegas for far too long, but now that he has become a recording artist and is living in LA, the world is finally getting the opportunity to see and hear what Carl Fontana was talking about.

- Bobby Shew

Aprox 82 min.  Mostly music, some interview.