The Leading Edge: Jon Owens, Unedited (Sept. 2010 Issue)

Who were your top three earliest influences as a lead player before you turned thirty?

Jon Owens

My early influences of lead trumpet players were generally the players on the touring bands, some of whom I saw perform live as a teenager. One memorable concert I saw was Toshiko Akioshi's band with Joe Mosello playing lead trumpet, opening up for Maynard Ferguson's band. I heard the Buddy Rich band with Eric Miyashiro playing lead trumpet among many others. I listened to tons of recordings. I got a hold of some bootleg tapes with Dave Stahl playing lead. The Woody Herman 50th Anniversary album with Roger Ingram playing lead is a particular standout. Then you had all the great horn section session players, Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, and guys like Lew Soloff and Jon Faddis. Of course everyone heard Doc Severinsen wailing on the Tonight Show. The list goes on and on.  I have always loved that sound of a trumpet soaring over a band.

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