Longtones

In the season 2 finale of Longtones, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the remarkable Sasha Romero to delve into her inspiring musical career! We explored Sasha’s beginning influences and journey through the Texas band program, her audition experiences, philosophy on musical education, thoughts on the current industry, strategies for balancing a busy schedule of teaching and performing, sou...

Welcome to the penultimate episode of season two of Longtones! In this special episode featuring Josh and Steve, we dove into the ever-changing music retail industry. We discussed topics including the closure of Sam Ash, the rise of new wave businesses, how retail adapted to modern demands, strategies for survival and growth, the pros and cons of having a brick-and-mortar store, and more! This epi...

In this episode, we sat down with the talented, dual-threat, trumpeter and comedian, Kellin Hanas, to talk about her unique and exciting musical trajectory. We discussed Kellin’s start in music, how role-models affected the trajectory of her career, taking the chance on NYC, balancing both trumpet and comedy, how she defines her personal artistic style, how music and social media can benefit a uni...

In this episode, we sat down with trumpet player, vocalist, composer, and educator, Benny Benack III, to dive into the exciting story of his musical career. We discussed Benny’s start in music and early defining moments, modern challenges for today’s musicians, balancing both vocals and trumpet, the mentor-mentee relationship in jazz, artistry within algorithms, and more — We even went over Benny’...

In this episode, we sat down with principal trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Toby Oft, to dive into the exhilarating journey of his music career. We discussed Toby’s start in music, how to justify a life in the arts, thoughts on having a career in a creative industry, approach to instrumental aspects like conceptualizing tone and breathing, tips for navigating the industry both as a st...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Summer Camargo to dive into the exhilarating journey of her music career. We discussed Summer’s start in music, her experience as SNL’s newest band member, playing in NYC and beyond with acts like the Mingus Big Band, her debut album “To Whom I Love”, and so much more. During our Q&A session, we chatted about topics like the behind the...

Welcome to Episode 12 of Longtones, where we have a special guest, Chris Legaux, the owner of TrumCor Mutes! Join us as we take a deep dive into Chris’ journey, the development of TrumCor, and what the future holds for the brand. We'll be uncovering the philosophy behind making mutes for the brass world, exploring how they adapt to modern and industry challenges, as well as some fascinating st...

Welcome to Longtones Episode 11, featuring special guest Ben Wright! In this episode, we explore Ben’s journey as a musician, tracing his evolution through various music institutions. Additionally, we delve into his philosophy as an educator, touching upon T5 and the Sound Truth Library. Later, during our Q&A session, we tackle topics such as the concept of 'more air,' behind-the-scene...

The first ever host-meetup happened last week at NAMM and it just may be our best episode yet! Joined by special guest Trent Austin we discussed who NAMM is really for, if there’s still room in this industry for new players, and tips and insights into the music retail industry — we even included a brand new podcast-only segment at the end!!! This is THE episode to catch if you've ever been cur...

Starting off Season 2 in 2024 with an episode featuring trombonist, educator, and composer James Burton III! We delved into James' trombone origin story, exploring his musical evolution across various music institutions and alongside legends like Illinois Jacquet to his professional stints on Broadway and in the broader music scene. Beyond his illustrious career, we explored his impactful role...

Happy New Year friends — We've got a bonus end-of-year Longtones episode for you all this holiday season! In this episode Steve and Josh reflect on the first season of Longtones, chat about standout brass products in 2023, make predictions for the brass industry in 2024, converse about what's next for their businesses, and discuss how Longtones is changing this upcoming year! For more insi...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jon Lampley to dive into the exciting journey of his music career. We discussed coffee, Jon’s experience playing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, Jon’s move out to NYC, and so much more! Towards the end of the episode, you'll find a Q&A session where Jon answers questions from the music community, providing unique insights i...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Brian Newman to delve into the fascinating journey of his music career. From achieving and managing his very own Las Vegas residency to his role as a creative director at a jazz club in NYC, Brian's story is a testament to dedication and passion in the world of music. We also explore his successful navigation of a thriving career in mul...

We had an incredible conversation with John Snell from Bob Reeves Brass alongside Steve and Josh! Everything from breaking down the Reeves Sleeves, discussing the LA music scene, Bob Reeves Brass stories, and even a hot take or two — you don’t want to miss out on hearing this episode. A bit about John: John Snell has been a vital member of the Bob Reeves Brass team since 2001, where he is a dedica...

In this episode trumpet player, Rashawn Ross, hopped on a Longtones with us on Instagram this past Wednesday to discuss a variety of exciting topics within the music world — and it was incredible! We spoke with Rashawn about the ins and out of the industry as a brass player, how a trumpet player manages the road and studio, the future of the music industry, advice for other musicians finding their...

Diving into the ins and outs of the brass business with our first guest Christan Griego, who is the Director of Development & Marketing for the Edwards Instrument Company, as well as the owner and visionary behind Griego Mouthpieces. We go over everything from mouthpiece manufacturing to behind-the-scenes of product designing and more!

Taking a look this week at the modern brass scene and its brands. In addition to discussing modern instrument makers, we'll be going over some of the secrets and happenings on the manufacturing side as well!

In the introductory episode of Longtones, Steve and Josh discuss stand out instruments from the vintage era, as well as why they are sought after by brass players. We also discuss which of these vintage instruments have stood the test of time, and how these era of horns compare to their modern counterparts. Finally we wrap up with some questions from our communities!