#fred radke

[sposdollarbingems]

Fred Radke & Mike Vax Quintet - Sunrise (First Reunion) [1982]

[rachel-reviews]

Practice. Practice makes perfect. Practice everyday. You know, you really get good when you practice. Practice. Listen. Open your ears. Go hear great players play in person. I can remember going to hear Miles Davis, Maynard and all these great cats when I was a young guy. It's really important. You've got to go out and, first of all, support jazz in your community and listen to records. Practice listening. Learning how to play jazz, 60% of it is listening to the greats. That was my first idea when I went with Harry. I said, “You know, I wanna sit here and really study this man and find out what makes him as great as he is.” It was to study! And I can see why because he was such a flawless trumpet player. He could play anything: classical, jazz, anything! He didn't do that just by picking a horn up. He practiced a lot and that's what made him great. So practice, listen and make sure you go out and focus on what you want to do in your career. Focus and stay on that line, and it will pay off.

Fred Radke's advice to aspiring jazz players

[rachel-reviews]

Rachel: Where has been your favorite place to visit?

Fred Radke: Are you kidding? I reside in the Northwest. Any time I can come to Florida this time of year, you got it! {laughs} I love Florida!

[rachel-reviews]

Rachel: So what does it take for a musician to become a part of the Harry James Orchestra?

Fred Radke: Reputation. Musicianship.

Harry never auditioned anybody. I was hired to play first trumpet on the band by reputation. When somebody calls you and says, “There's this fella that did this and did that,” well, if there's a position open, naturally you're going to give him a shot.

I also love to give young players a shot that have never played with anybody. I've got a young alto-saxophone player at UW and a trombonist that just knock me out! I mean, they're as good as anybody I've ever played with. They're going on the road with me in May because you gotta give them a shot.

But it's mostly by reputation.

[rachel-reviews]

Harry was a perfectionist, which I am. I think that he expected you to walk out on that bandstand and not give 100%, but 150%. [He expected you to] never complain about your chops or being tired. That's the worst thing you could've done to him because he didn't want to hear that. He was such a strong player—and a strong guy physically because he was a true athlete. As a musician, he always expected you, if you were in that caliber—as I do today—to achieve the very highest level of musicianship, and that' what he really portrayed to the other players on the band. They all respected him. They had the highest respect for him. His friend was Frank Sinatra, who he started with. You know, you see Sinatra come by and say hello to Harry, and the Johnny Carsons and all these famous people who would come by to see Harry and pay respects to him, you know that you were with somebody of some greatness, which he was.

Fred Radke: Conductor of the Harry James Orchestra