Q: How do you feel about playing with trumpet players? -- Russ Davis of MoJa Radio (in conversation with Chick, Jan. 14, 2010)

A: My dad was the first trumpet player in my life. He taught me to play a bit. I played trumpet in the Massachusetts Jazz Society Band, I played lead trumpet, for two hits, sort of. I played this Rudy Muck mouthpiece that had a real shallow depth, so you could hit high notes real easy. My dad played the trumpet, great instrument.

One of the warmest times in my life was working for 2-3 years, on and off, with Blue Mitchell's group, and Blue Mitchell, he encouraged me to write music. He was one of the first jazz musicians to record some of my songs. That was a great band. I was a big fan of Horace Silver growing up, and this was basically Horace Silver's quintet, without Horace. Somehow I got the gig, I don't know how, but Blue was really nice to me, and he played a sweet, sweet horn. That was a great time, I loved that gig.

It's hard to talk about Miles because he's more than a trumpet player. Now that he's not around us physically anymore, it's just Miles' world.

-- Chick

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