Airmen of Note with Allen Vizzutti - "Fire Dance"

[@Ranger15893bn]

I wrote him a note while I was in high school, the great thing is he wrote me back a personal note answering all my questions as a young trumpet player in 1980. Great guy!

[@edha4827]

dude that is so cool. when I was in hs in late 70s, I visited the studios of roy stevens and jerry callet. never forget it.

[@Rotting0nion]

That’s awesome! Where did u send the letter @Ranger1589

[@gregplo]

I got to meet him in 1977 or 1978 when the Woody Herman Herd was playing in Dedham, MA in a small club. I was in High School at the time, and played in our Concert and Stage Bands. My father took our family to see the band, and our table was pretty much front and center. That was an unbelievable concert, and yes...he played Fire Dance. WOW! When the band took a break, most of them just hung out at the bar, and I got to speak to Allen and ask him what kind of horn he was playing. He was totally laid back and very nice. At the time, he was playing a Benge. At that point, I had no idea what a "Benge" was...all we ever saw were Conn, King, Holton, and the occasional Getzen Severinsen in our schools. I will never forget that experience.

[@龍一赤上]

7:34 7:34

[@lynerobinson7809]

Allen was in my high school band (Missoula, MT) way back in the day, he was a freshman, I was a senior----awesome trumpet player!!!!!

[@alexpalmer7018]

Go Knights!

[@lp9931]

Fucking hell seriously. You played among a legend

[@arcadiojarquin9032]

what year was this Sir?

[@thomassicard3733]

Yeah... AWESOME trumpet player and musician!!!!

[@Hyslop65]

During my time as CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra we produced a concert in honor of Doc Severinsen's 70th birthday , There were many great soloists who came to honor Doc. I asked Allen to play Fire Dance in honor of Doc and it blew the crowd and Doc away . Allen is a great player and a Hell of a nice guy .

[@imuawarriors]

in the world of trumpeters, he is definitely overlooked/under appreciated... his relaxed style could be his own undoing - he makes it look too easy! some other players would have been gyrating and grimacing over every high note...

[@catconfirmed1896]

grimace

[@koju3891]

grimace

[@whazup25]

He looks like he's casually watching tv or something. He's so relaxed that he almost looks bored lol

[@mangss9602]

That’s what happens when you practice something for decades. You can do great things while looking bored! This trumpet player is absolutely amazing like god dammm

[@remingtonusmc]

This is why Allen Vizzutti is such an incredible musician . . . not only can he REALLY play, but he brings a sense of showmanship to his performances which make them all the more enjoyable!

[@EmileYazbek]

One of the few things Chuck Norris can't do.

[@tiagofeitor7793]

Back when chuck norris meme was a thing

[@torikenyon]

Wow this is an authentic chuck norris joke from 2011

[@akeemjackman9582]

😂😂🤣

[@anonymoustoo4945]

lol

[@waynebritton1436]

@@tiagofeitor7793 You mean that whiff of the high note right. Lol

[@johngonsalves5268]

I love how Alan turns the airball at the end into fodder for his own jokes. His light attitude is a mark of true mastery with tone of the cleanest order. Thanks for the upload jazzbugler

[@donkeykong2882]

John Gonsalves well said

[@armandogiordano1226]

This is when a human understands 100% of how to make brass pipes work.

[@finnohea982]

Agreed. I don't think there is another player on the planet that understands the instrument as well as Vizzuti. He can outchop just about anyone through his understanding of air and trumpet.

[@jr2660]

Finn O'Hea i think there is one person above him. Arturo Sandoval! Although he is not my personal number one, he has the fullest sound in every register and the melodies. Allen has a great technique, maybe the best, but less of melodies then Arturo has

[@trevianhipp9250]

@@jr2660 what about Wayne bergeron?

[@jr2660]

@@trevianhipp9250 Wayne is my favorite trumpet player and he is propably one of the best when it comes to playing lead, but there are better players out there, which he stated many Times. Don't get me wrong, Wayne is my favorite, but objectively he is not number one

[@xlfutur1]

Al's embouchure looks the same whether he is playing middle C, or a double G and above. Its incredible.

[@Mr_splashman21]

xlfutur1 he uses air

[@carlcarl1397]

He uses focused air constant air flow

[@rnordquest]

I just wish using air was easy to do.

[@bigaggietrumpet]

He's probably got more talent in just his pinky than most of us could ever hope to have. Vizzutti is just insane.

[@magirusdeutzjupiter2234]

An amazing trumpeter and band. As a drummer the drummer was absolutely EXCELLENT too!

[@saram6002]

I really love the relaxed way he plays to hit those high notes...truly an inspiration to me and many other trumpet players. 😊

[@carlcarl1397]

The only way to play utilizing air stream no pressure and moving around just airflow and firm relaxed chops

[@martinflataker1823]

Check out greg spence mate

[@TWBaltz]

Love his music. He can really bring back jazz to my generation. It is what we need.

[@mrbanana7167]

It's been 10 years.

[@joemikehap]

The first time I heard this piece was WAY back in Junior High School. The Woody Herman band played in Raytown, MO and my band director took a bunch of us to hear the concert. Now, this was the '76 Herd! I can't believe the first live band concert I ever went to was to hear this particular band. What luck! Vizzutti played Fire Dance, walked off to the back of the band and proceeded to deal with a nose bleed. He couldn't have been more than 25 years old at the time. Incredible concert!

[@andrewdevalpine3679]

Hey Jerry -- just noticed this. Thanks for putting it up.

[@joemikehap]

Hey Andy, Thanks so much for your note. Vizzutti is such a master player. A real legend. Hope all is groovy with you and your family up in the Great White North. All the best, Andy.....:)

[@andrewdevalpine3679]

He sure is. What effortless range and facility. I'm not a fan of that style of improvising, though -- blizzards of notes. I prefer more groove-oriented and melodic approaches, like Warren Vache, for example. Hoper you're getting lots of playing in. Maria took a job at James Madison U; one of these days (years, actually) I will be moving down, too.

[@peterburger8921]

One of the reasons he can play so well is that he is so relaxed -- which also makes him such a fun performer to hear/watch.

[@Gekkigami]

i can't get enough of this vid, just beyond words... His tone is perfect, amazing range, circular breathing, double tonguing WTF !! best song ever for trumpet !!! Thans mr Vizzutti for this song !

[@Mazagna95]

If anyone can 'shred' on a horn... It's this guy

[@TheJivu]

MEU DEUS !!! Onde esse homem foi buscar esse agudo?!! É de arrepiar... PERFEITOOO !!!

[@sn5565]

"I cant play this but Ill try"

[@123Trumpeter]

I've seen this video 100 plus times and it's always good.

[@camdini3-372]

One of my top memories is having a trumpet lesson with this guy!

[@iamspecialized808]

A great trumpet player and a comic! My favorite combo!

[@cherinik_9650]

THIS MANS REALLY STUCK HIS TONGUE OUT WHAT A KING

[@riverme2994]

Right💀

[@davidcowan4705]

Allen Vizzutti will go down in history as the best trumpet player of all time.

[@soyomars]

Excellent showmanship. I love Allen.

[@TheRjjrjjr]

Brings tears to my eyes every time! I would LOVE to not be able to play Fire Dance like this!

[@swm-sm6cu]

Why am I just learning about this guy? He's a freak of nature! I'm sure it takes a lot of work to be able to play like this, but I don't think I could play like that no matter how hard I tried! Just incredible!

[@kakakuu12]

Allen Vizzutti is the most amazing person I have ever met.

[@01elainemel]

I have heard Doc in person, and it was unbelievable. How this guy can do this so seemingly effortlessly is really unbelievable!

[@WhalerGA]

I've heard both Doc and Vizzutti live. Doc takes your breath away. Vizzutti makes your jaw drop.

[@cbunix23]

I saw Allen play "Fire Dance" with Woody Herman in the late 1970s at jazz festival in Elkhart, Indiana for high school jazz ensembles. To say the least I was in shock, even our band director was in shock. A little known fact about the "Road Father" disc is it was recorded as direct-to-disc. With that technology an entire side is recorded at a time. If there are any mistakes on that side you start all over again from the beginning. It took around dozen takes to record that one side.

[@bsmellocats]

1: Allen Vizzutti and Airmen of Note Jazz band 2: Latin Jazz/ post bob 3: 16 bar song form 4: I have always admired Allen Vizzutti as a brass player for his ability to remain so relaxed, as we all strive to, while playing notes that are very fast and or in extreme registers. Also, the Airmen of Note is a really good band (that drummer is killin it!)

[@cdmjazz]

I heard this live in the late '70s when Vizzutti was with Woody Herman. I remember it as being even faster and cleaner back then. And he also wote the piece!

[@the_guy9946]

As a trumpet player, i dont know much im relatively young in my playing career but this is literally impossible only .05% of all players will ever come close to this when i try to think of every single thing he is doing with his mouth, air, fingers, tongue i dont even know what to say. I cant believe someone like this exists but thank god i was born in time to hear it...

[@edha4827]

my trumpet teacher said to me in the 70s: "do you know why bill chase sounds the way he does? because he never sees the light of day!" i.e., ALWAYS in the woodshed

[@carlcarl1397]

@@edha4827 that and he uses all air

[@donpeterson9282]

Allen Vizutti has made some training tapes. I have one of them. It is a VCS-type tape. I don't know how many trumpet method videos he has made, however, I would suggest you do a little searching for anything he has published and incorporate them into your study. Whether music becomes your life's work or an avocation, you owe it to yourself to become as proficient as you can. Bobby Shew is another fine trumpet player whose advice is highly respected by professional trumpeters in the music industry. Some of the finest professionals have had embouchure problems at one time or another. Mr. Shew is a person they reach out to for advice. I don't know if he has any published method materials but you might check to see what is available. All that being said, the one most important piece of advice I picked from Mr.Vizutti is never let one especially high note or difficult passage spoil your solo. Always practice while maintaining a pretty sound. While playing high is in vogue today it is not always appropriate or pretty. Being able to play in the very high upper register requires a certain approach to the study of trumpet playing. There is a time and specific training methods that will improve your range but, as any skill or ability will advise, it requires a firm and well-developed embouchure in order to achieve your goals. Don't take shortcuts. In the long run, they may damage your emdouchure and I don't believe there is anything quite so discouraging and difficult as going back and doing what needs to be done to correct a flaw in your habits and abilities on any instrument. Please believe me on this. I have been there. It takes great discipline and focus to correct a problem. The most important habit for you to develop is to base your practice on good habits and discipline and put in the time. Some teachers will inform you that you should rest your embouchure the same amount of time that you are practicing. Play 10 minutes, rest 19 minutes. Long tones, lip slurs, scales and arpeggios are very important. Being able to obtain a reasonable sound in the fundamental frequency range ( notes below g-flat on your instrument are employed in developing your upper range. It takes a lot of discipline to become a proficient musician. I wish you all the best in your areà.

[@theman9126]

he wrote something only he could play.....thats just amazing......

[@matthewcanfield2521]

Two things I appreciate about Mr Vizzutti, #1 his embouchure and body posture is the same no matter what he is playing! #2 His tone is fantastic even when coming down out of the stratosphere his tone is still full and beautiful! What a player!

[@hd-hh5wz]

聴いてて気持ちいいくらいハイノートがカッと音のセンター入ってるし テクニックやば杉崎

[@ToniDelgadoFernandez]

Roza la perfección, siempre he admirado a Vizzutti.

[@MarkWilliams-oi8ck]

very nice love your trumpet playing sound nice and clear

[@alexpalmer7018]

Uploader is not Allen

[@RussellDDixon]

Love the Jazz Jamboree version from 1977 also. Close up of Allen's solo from the side. Just incredible !

[@Drag0ncl0ud]

WOW, starting off on a high C with no effort at all then shooting up to the double C and down to low G when not even a minute has passed in the piece. Amazing.

[@GeorgKallenbach]

This is great, every minute was both entertaining and breathtaking :)

[@katiekilgore6918]

16 people are either bitter woodwind/string players, people who have no taste in music, or people who are bitter about the fact that they aren't that good. This is absolutely out of this world!!! No one should be allowed to be this good! Also, did anyone else's chops give out for him during this entire thing, especially the cadenza?

[@auscon04]

Chuck Norris would gladly take just the notes that Allen Vizzutti clams. All other notes are beyond even Chuck's ability.

[@dilireus]

Yes, he has released a number of albums going back to the early 1980s. Amazon has a few of them for sale.

[@carloscolipi5653]

In my opinion, he is one of the greatest trumpeters in the world , and yes , a very nice and cool guy. I met him at the university of Utah 2012 .

[@WhalerGA]

He's one of the greatest wind instramentalists in the world.

[@edstud1]

Truly a great musician!

[@TFOS]

thanks for uploading...brilliant!

[@thad1121]

awesome performance

[@Michel8665]

EXCELLENT !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@slugoz7709]

What's crazy is that he hit that Ab so fat after the miss and the joke, it was like the miss never happened. My trumpet teacher always says that you can never suck a wrong note back into the horn, but as always, Allen defies the laws that us mere mortals abide by, usually in an especially hilarious way.

[@bshelley3]

I caught him in Syracuse, NY, back in the early 2000's. You think this is good? Try his "Emerald Concerto," a trumpet concerto which he wrote and describes as being intended as a "violin concerto....only on the trumpet." It'll make your head spin. (And he finished that concert with "Firedance"...heck of a concert.)

[@heinzturksch8767]

Yes indeed, one of the best

[@HenryKavett]

First heard him at Interlochen around 1969 when he played revillee at 6:50 AM

[@Yugioh_Flo]

4:15 OOOOOH BABY

[@silviopisano9118]

Eccezionale performance del solista " Allen Vizzutti " - ( le note in ottavi superiore ) - molto bello !....

[@sourcreamandcurtains]

Sounds like a pokemon battle theme.

[@trump3t]

I saw him saturday!!! he's a really cool guy!

[@j-tacular8969]

This was posted when I was born

[@crazyco95]

I am a high school trombonist and I played a plunger solo with this great god of music Friday night we traded and double-tounged, growled, and ran our way all throughout an amazing rendition of Black Coffee

[@restorationconcrete]

If that’s “I really can’t play this” then I’d love not to play like that!

[@erdwest]

ABSOLUTE AWESOMENESS!!!

[@Texasdav1]

Amazing.

[@magictrumpet48]

Magic Trumpet Channel (Stéphane PISO, French trumpeter on You Tube) say : Wow !!! Allen VIZZUTTI is one of those trumpeters I will never forget ! As we say in French : Bravo !

[@perpetualconfusion5885]

Anyone in 2016?

[@lindsey0806]

Yup, is Allen Vizzutti still alive btw?

[@TiimEKeePeR]

+lindsey0806 Oh yeah. Just performed with him yesterday in my high school jazz band. He's still very much alive and well :)

[@aristonawitan3034]

+lindsey0806 yes he is

[@enriquedegollado2984]

+Brandon Pressley I got him to sign my trumpet, take a few pictures, and he sat down with me and gave me like a 20 minute private lesson. He's a phenomenal guy in both ability to play and character. I'm a huge fan of his and last I talked with him was about a few weeks ago.

[@miguelferreira1688]

2017 xD

[@trumpetmaart]

Thanks for the super Video. very nice performence.

[@babaksolhjoo6252]

I have heard a very clear version of fire dance in years around 2000s.... but cannot find it anymore.... It was very clean and full of instruments... Does anyone know about it? maybe the name of the song has been changed.... I do not remember.... But for sure the song was this but much cleaner and recorded in studio with high quality...

[@mbreyer]

Wow!

[@iggyzizzle]

This is a really nice recording.

[@killingnatalie]

@chillinbro666 Jazz is all about quoting and alluding other pieces of music, jazz or otherwise. That's what makes it such a great genre to play and listen to, especially when you recognize where they are pulling phrases from.

[@Me-wk7dz]

Is it just me or does 2:40 - 3:17 sound like it could be in a nintendo game?

[@adamanderson418]

The Guy epic zelda

[@xlfutur1]

that cadenza is the most insane thing I've ever heard on trumpet.

[@123Trumpeter]

AMAZING!!!

[@MrMoxo]

Muito Bom...

[@rubengabrielruedamendez8032]

lo mejor que e escuchado :)

[@RealDrew-or6mq]

The last 40 or so seconds of this killlsss me. He basically just said screw it and played those last few bars like those were his last notes he were ever going to play. Like dang.....I wish my air flow could be like that

[@sw5824]

Many drum & bugle corps played this great piece on the field in competition. Check out the SKY RYDERS of Hutchinson Kansas. He'd be proud.

[@3kingkool]

This guy has such effortless technique.

[@natanaeldelgado6506]

Muy buena la obra la necesito

[@Caff-pv8fg]

This was all I could think about when I was taking my math test today 💀

[@allenmurphy9738]

A great talent.

[@robertearlkeenrespecter9933]

the woody derman big band

[@ericporter3111]

I cannot get over the lip trill at 3:36. Incredible

[@Kohnslaw]

I loved the trombone player just before 6:00. It looks like he checked his watch while Allen was doing the circular breathing part :D

[@user-kl4de9xv4s]

Allan is one of my trumpet Gods!

[@funconductor]

If I recall correctly, it was "Can you read lips? Pbpbpbpbpbbpbpbpb.........." Hilarious moment, and an UNBELIEVABLE concert! Why the place wasn't packed, I will never understand........

[@Linchetto68]

Fantastico Allen!!!!!!!!!

[@shockwave9422]

Does anyone know if the sheet music for this exists? or has it been banished from existance.

[@MartinMusic]

Amazing

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

I was never able to play like that but I bet I said "I can't really play that." more than he has!!

[@sabinehohe9744]

unbelieveable

[@RussellDDixon]

Allen is now offering this solo in a free PDF file on his website.

[@matthewcooper2640]

Press 4 and 9 over and over again.

[@pablobasstb]

THANK YOU FOR THAT HAHAHAAAAA

[@MrBilioner]

I added 8 for some salt

[@BRUCE80K]

Maybe he looks relaxed but is not, he is prepared and confident!

[@zekeyeager1756]

I guess you could say this song is “Fire”

[@davidcowan4705]

The airball towards the end was intentional and I almost think that was the hardest thing for him to do is to intentionally have a shut down stunt. In other words, he would have to work very hard to intentionally make a mistake.

[@oldbandguy]

Great drummer!

[@Supersamazing]

The circular breathing part is insane.

[@caperdoodle]

You are so true.

[@LS6FD]

OMG What a beast