Lee Loughnane of Chicago about Trumpet and Claude Gordon techniques

Lee Loughnane of the legendary band Chicago talks about trumpet the techniques that have changed his playing as he continues to improve at age 76. 32 years ago Lee changed his playing and he talks about what he did and why it matters so much.
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[@georgelandrie]

I've seen Chicago more than 100x since 1982. I love and witnessed Lee transform his playing. He is so much of a different player, consistent, modest, understated and great with endurance. Lee is one of our truly great trumpet inspiring hereos. Great interview! Lee talking trumpet is actually a rare moment. His 2 hit wonders are great classic 45s. Much appreciated!

[@eddierussellmusic]

Every day practice is a wonderful way of life. Thanks Lee .

[@kojirosasaki6200]

I studied with Paul Witt in college. I’m a 57 year old high school band director and I can still play my axe. I wouldn’t be the player I am had I not studied with Paul. I play on a Selmer Claude Gordon with the CG personal mouthpiece. (Been playing on that mouthpiece since 1983.). Also been a lifelong Chicago fan.

[@studiodlux]

Very detailed account of Chicago s early days! Lee is fantastic and has his own style and sound! Amazing career..Lucky to have him on our new single!

[@JeffPurtle]

What’s your new single? I bet it’s great. Please share this video. Glad to have captured some of who Lee is and how he got where he is now. Cool guy.

[@kevinrauscher9166]

I studied with Claude Gordon many years ago and am completely gassed when I first learned that Lee was learning Systematic Approach etc etc. I’ve played on multiple Chicago cover bands my whole life and Chicago is the reason I became a working trumpet player. I ‘m 69 years old play better than ever because of what Claude taught me a bout how to practice. Lee has always been a beast, even more so since embracing the CG methodology. Lee I’ll see you this July in St.Louis with EWF / Chicago together always a great show!

[@JeffPurtle]

Thanks. I bet that will be fun in July. Look for Lee afterwards. He’s always into talking trumpet. Please share this video as much as possible. I want people to know more about Lee and Claude. Where did you study with CG? I went to his Reseda studio on Leadwell and the last couple years drove to Big Bear.

[@kevinrauscher9166]

Jeff, I was first there in Woodland Hills, at Ventura/ Sepulveda 1976/July did a one week intensive immersion 3-4 lessons a day . Went again to the Leadwell House in Reseda1978?for another week. We met at A CG Brass Camp south of San Francisco 1980or 81? Bay Bones played, the Brass Band comedy quintet played one evening( Gong Show act!)there was a Physician/ Surgeon who chewed Claude out in front of everybody at a morning class for demostrating a3octave chromatic runs 3or 4 runs in one breath! Apparently he was post bypass surgery about 2-3 weeks. Claude looked like a kid who got caught stealing cookies. You were there! I remember you reminding me play pedal tones with less force as I was up on a hillside doing my routines! (I think it was you!) John? Bendigkeit played jazz for us one night and I led a student ensemble playing “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik “ one evening. Claude was a delight to study with,and I still practice the way he taught us all to practice. Thanks posting the Lee Loughnane interview!

[@JeffPurtle]

I was there. I had that demo on a micro cassette but lost it and found one with no audio. If you or anyone has that or other audio I would love to post it on my site because you know Claude could play even right after the surgery with his arms all shaking from the muscles cut. That was Dr. Larry Miller, who was his student and heart surgeon. On the Susan Slaughter video from my conference you can hear Susan talk about Claude holding up surgery to make sure she knew not to fly to him for her crash course lessons that week. Claude cared more about students that his own heart surgery.

[@kevinrauscher9166]

@@JeffPurtle Dr Larry Miller! We ran together every morning at camp. I could not remember his name so thanks for that info. I just heard Susan at her annual Christmas Brass concert in December. We were so blessed to have her in SLSO principle chair for so long. Absolutely wonderful musician and human being.

[@kcnate2131]

Lee is one of the most listened to trumpeters of all time! Not only excellent player, but also Humble and articulate. Jeff and Lee, Thanks for the wonderful interview.

[@lamarravery4094]

Lee, you're a legend, keep doing what you do, long live Chicago!

[@hypno59]

Loved you singing on "Song Of The Evergreens" What a big surprise and a standout on a masterpiece album.

[@JeffPurtle]

I will tell Lee. Please share this and other videos and subscribe and click the notification bell to see other videos as I post them.

[@johnb9507]

I think the trumpet is keeping Lee young. What a great guy!

[@JeffPurtle]

Agree. He loves it and you can hear it in the interview. We talked during C19 and the guys were recording then and having lots of fun. Lee knows he did so many drugs he could have killed himself. Nothing to fear and just have fun and play!

[@stephenmurphy8833]

Awesome interview. Loved listening to him talk about still learning and improving his technique.

[@JeffPurtle]

Glad you enjoyed it! Please share it with others.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Finally, a great and long interview. Thank you so much.

[@JeffPurtle]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnb9507]

Lee is the only member left who was born in Chicago. Lamm was born in Brooklyn and Pankow was born in St. Louis.

[@johnmohanmusic]

You NAILED this interview Jeff! Lee is one of my favorite trumpet player personalities, both for his splendid playing and his splendid, humble personality. Lee and I met several years ago when our mutual friend Earth, Wind & Fire trumpet player Bob Burns arranged full access back stage passes for my wife Anne and I to a combined Chicago / Earth, Wind & Fire Concert here in Chicago. Lee's playing that night was amazing, as it always is (and so of course, was Bobby's).

[@jobai3229]

Very enjoyable interview. So nice to see someone letting the interviewee get his thoughts out without being cut off. I have seen Chicago three times in the last year, going again in November. Their concerts are such a fun time. Unless they are all great actors, it seems they still enjoy playing the songs they've done countless times. Their joy is infectious.

[@josephziercher1603]

Thanks Jeff...Lee has been one of my idols since high school and college. I am a a 57 year old trumpet player that plays in R and B, Funk, and Chicago type groups. I am a much better player now than I was in my 20's and 30's. To hear that a guy of his caliber is still improving at the age of 76, is awesome!!

[@JeffPurtle]

That’s one of the main things I wanted people to take away from our chat. Lee and I talk every few months and recently he shared with me how my videos mention breath control and playing playing soft with power. I have his voicemail and after I called him back asked if we could do the video chat. I’m excited it all happened and people enjoy it and getting to see what he’s like.

[@abnercotto2368]

I’ve been using a C. G. Personal mouthpiece for 3 years now and it really is good like he said.

[@JeffPurtle]

It’s great. I heard back in the 80s one of the guys from Miami Sound Machine also played a CG Personal.

[@artvandelay8090]

What Lee is describing with the "modified K-tongue" is exactly the same thing that Doc Reinhardt termed as his "Type V" (5) tongue. The similarity that it has with a modified K-tongue is that the tip of the tongue is not being used to release the air. The tongue stays rather flat and closes the airstream by making a wide area of contact across the roof of the mouth, then releasing it for the attack. The difference between the standard K-tongue and the modified K-tongue is that with the modified K-tongue, the tip of the tongue touching the lower teeth causes the top surface of the tongue to make contact with the roof of the mouth in a more forward position, toward the front of the mouth, whereas with the standard K-tongue, the contact is made more toward the throat. The modified K-tongue is easier for players with longer tongues to execute. My tongue is not that long (but I make do, mind you). I tongue very similarly to the modified K-tongue, but the tip of my tongue does not always stay anchored against the bottom teeth depending on the passage being played. But I still play with the flat of the tongue (not the tip) making contact with the roof of the mouth and then releasing the air to play. When slurring and sustaining notes, the tip of my tongue stays anchored, but when double or triple tonguing, I'm not able to maintain that contact.

[@JeffPurtle]

Thanks for your comment. I will have to look in the Reinhardt book. I read the entire thing in prep for the panel I moderated that you can see on another KZbin video. It's not an actual "K" but producing a "T" but not with the very tip of the tongue. Some of what you are describing is what I might say or Claude Gordon and Herbert L. Clarke might say. Claude never used the term "anchor" because that's not the feel either. It is not rigid as Alessandro Liberati described in his method. I TOTALLY disagree with the notion that people with longer tongues might find that to be their way. I don't have a very long tongue and used to tongue the other way and when Claude Gordon switched me it was the single most important item. I had tried it two years before but only for a day and gave-up on it. Then, at the Claude Gordon Brass Camp I heard it mentioned again and considered it again. Claude had one time slot open I jumped on it because some people waited over 2 years on his list. For the two weeks before the lesson all Claude had me do was single tonguing the new way repeatedly on one note working up and down a one octave chromatic. Then, at the lesson we never single tongued another way. My speed improved but not as fast as some like a friend of mine that instantly was doing 16ths at 160 beats per minute. I probably was at about 95 and instantly got to 110 but over months and years got to 160 bpm. I can actually K tongue faster than lots of people at about 140 or 150 for 16ths with K! Through this process and development I remember how my K used to be more back but as clarity and speed improved it's maybe an inch of slightly more back from the tip to produce a K. Lee and I have talked a good bit about trumpet and text and call every couple months or so. All this stuff is just theory until you can experience it though. You can see how emotional Lee got about what this did for his playing. In my own playing and what I have seen in students I can tell you I literally feel every single note with 100% certainty before I play it. I've heard a student tell me how Jon Faddis had someone ask him if he could play 100 High Fs in a row without missing and he did it. That is no big deal if you tongue this way. Anyone can do it if you do the process.

[@artvandelay8090]

@@JeffPurtle Wow, thanks for sharing your experience with that. Yeah, Lee is quite an emotional guy - I'm kinda the same way. I think it has to do with brain chemistry - endorphins and hormones. I spoke at a college graduation ceremony once, and I had to cough and clear my throat a few times to hide the fact that I was getting choked up. I could NEVER deliver a eulogy without busting up completely. Some people try to portray that as a sign of weakness, but it's actually a sign of strength because those emotions can also be channeled into determination under pressure. I also think it helps us to play the trumpet more soulfully. So I'm a cryer and I'm not ashamed of it. I can relate to Lee getting emotional about something that was such a life-changing gift.

[@PriorityNewsNow]

Lee's playing has really improved since embracing these techniques.

[@lensott5576]

Very good interview. Thanks.

[@JeffPurtle]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have some other cool ones coming up. Lee is such a cool guy. In the last I tried to get him to do an event with me and he is so humble and didn’t feel he is really a teacher. Hearing him share his story is a lesson in and of itself. I’m glad people get to hear him talk and see he’s a constant learner.

[@joseph25624]

Awesome interview, Jeff. I am so pleased to hve stumbled onto it. Lee is such a great guy and awesome sense of humor. It was great hearing some of historical evolution of the band, and Lee’s own development. I know he did a lot of gigs in the Palmer House, and every time I’m in it that crosses my mind. I have been a Chicago fan for a long time, and it’s cool to pick up some missing pieces. When Lee was talking about when the band (in the very early days) would put a “Chicago spin” on some of the rock classics, I immediately thought to myself “oh, like Vanilla Fudge”, only to hear him say that. Again, a great interview, Jeff.

[@JeffPurtle]

Share this and I hope to do more with him later. Chicago is one of my all time favorites as it is for everyone. Before the official interview we talked and it’s amazing that Chicago and Rolling Stones are still going. How cool is it to have a band with horns be in that same category of a band?!

[@PriorityNewsNow]

@@JeffPurtleYes hope you can do more!

[@Not2CoolJazz]

Great interview. Thanks!

[@JeffPurtle]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Please share it with others and subscribe. I have more fun videos to post.

[@benmcdonald2020]

Thank you for sharing! How Much did the CSO sound concept of tone production influence your oral aural concept of sound?

[@JeffPurtle]

I can ask him. I don’t know if he listened to them live. He definitely is aware of all kinds of trumpet players and appreciates all styles and great players. He listened to my recent interview with Frank Kaderabek and knew all about Frank and other orchestral players.

[@benmcdonald2020]

@@JeffPurtle thanks I change my question a little. I knew that during that time a number of players had a concept of the CSO sound by listening and hearing other players without studying with them. Just wanted to ask the question. It was a great interview I truly grew up listening to Chicago then and know! 👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@JeffPurtle]

@@benmcdonald2020 Lee isn’t on social media but looks at stuff. I sent him the link to this and will wait a week or so to maybe ask some questions I can post here as people ask whatever.

[@thongor3154]

Iron man.