A few weeks ago I was in New Orleans hanging out listening to Marty Peters and the Party meters at the Spotted Cat. It was busy and it wasn\u2019t easy at first to see all of the band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I heard the trumpet player, who I learned was Jeff Kreis, take a solo which was really wonderful\u2026inventive and swinging. And the sounds was great\u2013lovely broad, resonant sound with a lot of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I thought, it sounds really familiar. So I started craning around others to see the player and the horn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even at a distance and angle, looking at the bell flair and shape I was pretty sure it was Wild Thing. And so it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I chatted for a bit with Jeff Kreis during a break and we talked about the trumpet which of course he loves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might think that a Wild Thing is the optimal horn for a band that leans between trad jazz and early swing where the trumpet sounds is often brassier and more focused than broader and resonant. But this excellent band is not really trying to recreate old sounds but rework them in creative ways. And we know the Wild Thing is so versatile that it appears that in the hands of a good player it can do almost anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeff had some fond memories of working with Flip Oakes when bought the trumpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n