Cat Anderson El Gato

Cat plays El Gato with the Ellington orchestra in 1969. Just about his last tour with the band before he went into studio playing. Do you want to play like this? Go to http://www.therealcatandersonmethod.com

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Music

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• Cat Anderson
• high note trumpet

[Master5664]

notice his not playing on a Bflat horn...Im pretty sure he's using a G/F bugle which increases his range by five whole steps...also if you read his bio he loved to play on his Schilky 6a4a(6a4a doesn't give range, it just makes it alot easyer)...Cat is an amazing trumpet player and used what ever it took to make him the best at what he does :-))

[sdhinote]

@Master5664 Hello? This is nonsense. I knew and studied with Cat for 8 years. He always played what he is playing here: A Conn Connstellation Bb trumpet. He never played on any Schilke mouthpiece. His mouthpieces were custom made by Bert Herrick and another maker in Chicago.

[jerec576]

I don't know why, but it seems like there isnt as much energy in this recording as there is in earlier recordings. Sounds like they all are just tired. Too bad.

[sdhinote]

I can see your point. Since this was for TV, you don't know how many times it was gone over before the broadcast. Plus, almost all of these musicians have been playing the same tunes for 30+ years. Hard to maintain enthusiasm without just mailing it in. Nevertheless, I dare anyone to duplicate it.

[Keyboarddoctor]

That's Rufus Jones on drums -- the only drummer I can think of who was the man for both Basie AND Ellington. If somebody else filled that exacta, Rufus cashes the trifecta as propeller of Maynard's great original big band. Am I overlooking any drummer(s) in that regard?

[sdhinote]

I think you're absolutely right, and no, I can't think of too many trifecta players in those days. Of course, Buddy Rich went with several bands, depending on who had the money.

[mberardi11]

Duke's intros are ridiculous, in the most charming of ways.

[sdadept]

For the record, G bugles are harder to play high, they are larger. Having said that, he's clearly playing a Bb trumpet.

[selector111]

Wow, I think this is incredible, Cat is clearly fatigued, but still is having no problem with double c's and higher in this vid, he has backed off on how loud he is playing which I am sure helped but look and listen to the ease.

[pedroesteban86]

@sdhinote seems like he is thinking of bill chase and his 6a4a Schilke. Bugles also don't make you have a sudden increase increase in range. You're embouchure still has to be able to be able to play the note. Common misconception, or else we'd all be playing G bugles and piccolo trumpets.

[MrNatch3L]

@Master5664 Cat gave a clinic at the first convention of the International Trumpet Guild at Indiana University back in the early 70s - I forget what year. He absolutely played a Conn B-flat horn which this looks like. We asked why Conn? "'Cause they give 'em to me." He demod his unusual technique. Used zero pressure on the lips. He could hit those strato notes holding the horn only by the 2nd valve button. He needs no special horn.

[headshrink1]

@Master5664 Conn Connstellation with Custom Mouthpiece. He never let anyone see what he used. Go study trumpet history. Cat is the best of High Registry player, that is why he was the Duke's lead horn! Duke was no dummy tp let a bugle boy play trumpet!

[kidfromredbank]

@boricuatrumpet69

No, you are wrong. That is a Burt Herrick mouthpiece.

[TheTheTrumpeter]

not a schilke. I've seen a comparison of his MP to a Schilke 6A4a. the cup is like potatoe chip thin, the diameter of the cup is small the the rim is at least twice as fat as a normal rim

[boricuatrumpet69]

@smoothbv I don't know man. Looks like a shilke but I might be wrong.

[smoothbv]

@boricuatrumpet69, i'm sorry but that seriously doesn't look like a schilke mouthpiece, the rim looks alittle different take a look at 1:07, i know that Burt Herrick inspired a lot of mouthpieces makers of today, designed could be very similar in some way, but don't think it a schilke mouthpiece,