The Louis Dowdeswell Podcast

EP 13: Who is Adam Rapa?

Amazing to sit down and have an honest chat with the great Adam Rapa. We have got to know each other a little over the past year, and every conversation has been incredibly stimulating for me.
This one is raw - enjoy!

EP 12: Eric Miyashiro - "I Was Just Satisfying My Ego"

"I should give the best of my life... for them." In this episode of the Louis Dowdeswell Podcast, I sit down with one of the most iconic trumpet players on the planet: Eric Miyashiro.
 
While Eric is world-renowned for his "screamer" high notes and his time leading the bands of Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, and Maynard Ferguson, this conversation goes far beyond the mechanics of the instrument.
 
Eric shares the incredible, moving story of an encounter with a 90-year-old student that fundamentally changed why he picks up the trumpet every day. We discuss the transition from "satisfying the ego" with flashy high notes to becoming a "responsible musician" who plays to soothe wounds and bring back joy.
 
In this episode, we cover: The Maynard Pouch: The truth behind Maynard Ferguson’s vintage mouthpieces (and why the gear doesn't make the player). The Buddy Rich Lessons: What Buddy taught Eric about "playing for the eyes" and why the lead chair is a circus act.
 
The "Band Leader Curse": Eric’s hilarious and tragic streak of joining legendary bands right before the leaders passed away. Finding a Voice in Tokyo: Why Eric left the US studio scene to build his own legacy in Japan. High Notes vs. Heart: Why being able to play high is a "gift and a curse," and the importance of playing a simple melody that makes people cry. Whether you're a brass player looking for technical insights or a creative looking for inspiration on how to serve your audience, Eric’s wisdom in this episode is a masterclass in humility and artistry.
 
Key Quote from Eric: "I had that power, but I was just using it to satisfy my ego... that old man opened up a whole new gateway to becoming a responsible musician. You're taking away two hours of their precious lifetime to hear you play. I should give the best of my life to them."
 
Follow Eric Miyashiro: https://www.ericmiyashiro.com/
 
00:00 – Intro: Catching up with Eric Miyashiro in Tokyo
03:15 – Meeting the "Trumpet Legends": Wayne Bergeron & Adam Rappa 05:40 – The Mystery Pouch: Maynard Ferguson’s Vintage Mouthpieces 08:22 – "It’s Not the Gear": Why Eric believes the player always beats the mouthpiece
11:05 – Maynard’s Secret: Why his mouthpieces had "no bite"
14:30 – Discovering God: Eric’s first time hearing Maynard Ferguson
17:15 – The Carnegie Hall Audition: Playing Maynard’s part for Maynard 21:40 – Authenticity vs. Showmanship: Was Maynard "acting" on stage? 25:10 – The Buddy Rich School: "People listen with their eyes"
28:50 – Handling Mistakes: Why you should never look "guilty" on stage 32:15 – Eric’s Heroes: From Clifford Brown to the Tower of Power
36:40 – The "Band Leader Curse": Joining Buddy, Woody, and Mel Lewis 40:12 – The Tokyo Transition: Choosing a solo career over the LA studios 44:45 – The Revelation: The story of the 90-year-old student and the suicide pilots
52:20 – Beyond the High Note: Moving from "Ego" to "Responsibility" 56:10 – The Fear of Quitting: Why Eric is still "scared" every day
59:45 – Outro: The "iPhone 17" of trumpet players 🎵 Music & Resources
 
• Signed CD featuring this track: https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop-1
• Backing tracks & sheet music play-alongs for this track: https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop
• Get my ULTIMATE BIG BAND TOOLKIT (all instruments): https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop
 
🎧 My music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2l8Bs... https://open.spotify.com/artist/5B1N4...
 
🎙️ The Louis Dowdeswell Poscast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VKO6Lp...
 
🔧 Gear I Use
• Hawkins Mutes: https://tinyurl.com/ldmutes
• Bach Trumpets: https://bachbrass.com/
• GR T1.0 Mouthpiece
👇 UK & EU – https://tinyurl.com/ldmp-uk-eu
USA – https://tinyurl.com/ldmp-usa
 
🎓 Trumpet Coaching & Academy https://www.louistrumpetacademy.com

EP 11: Arturo Sandoval - Confidence Over Perfection

I'm honoured to welcome Arturo Sandoval to the podcast as he shares how confidence, not perfection, wins over audiences — on stage and in life. From escaping Cuba to winning a Grammy on his first night in the U.S., his story shows how resilience builds true confidence.

EP 10: Mike Lovatt on Resilience, Sound, and a Lifetime with the Trumpet

Discover the remarkable story of Mike Lovatt—one of the UK’s most respected trumpet players. From a devastating cycling accident that nearly ended his career at 14, to performing with the John Wilson Orchestra, Jesse Norman, and leading his own Brass Pack ensemble, Mike shares powerful lessons on motivation, sound, and the soul of every note.
 
Perfect for brass players, musicians, and anyone seeking inspiration on resilience and artistry. 🎧 Listen now to hear Mike’s philosophy, his career milestones, and the wisdom he’s passing on to the next generation.
 
0:00 – Louis introduces Mike Lovatt and his legendary career.
6:42 – The life-changing accident at 14: losing teeth and fearing the end of trumpet playing.
12:15 – Six weeks later: returning to the stage with no teeth.
21:03 – Learning by ear, early influences, and discovering the trumpet’s sound.
34:27 – Motivation, resilience, and playing like your life depends on it.
48:10 – Lessons from working with Jesse Norman and the John Wilson Orchestra.
1:02:22 – Respecting the trumpet: philosophy, belief, and daily mindset. 1:15:08 – The importance of sound and connection with the audience. 1:28:54 – Passing on knowledge: Brass Pack, Brass Cubs, and inspiring the next generation.
1:44:30 – What’s next: recording a new solo album and future projects.
 
 
Join the Trumpet Academy: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-academy-6100

EP 9: John Thirkell on Buddy Rich, Studio Sessions & Building a Music Business

Trumpet legend John Thirkell joins Louis Dowdeswell to share stories from Buddy Rich to Jamiroquai, plus insights on practice, confidence & business.
 
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights
00:00 – Facing fears & growth as a musician
02:10 – Introducing John Thirkell: trumpet & flugelhorn legend
06:45 – Discovering the trumpet at school in the North East
14:20 – Failing auditions but finding another path
19:00 – QE2 gigs: sight-reading, cabaret & lessons learned
25:40 – Moving to London & joining the BBC Big Band
32:10 – Touring with Buddy Rich & high-pressure band life
42:00 – Staying calm under pressure: Caruso lessons & mindset
52:30 – Teaching methods: Bill Adam, Bob Becka & mental game
1:03:00 – Touring with Lisa Stansfield & Swing Out Sister
1:12:20 – Studio session life in the 80s & 90s boom
1:23:00 – Creating passive income & the Two Camels business
1:35:00 – Productivity, planning & tackling hard tasks first
1:48:00 – Balancing trumpet practice with business life
1:57:00 – On confidence, comebacks & playing after 8 years off
2:08:00 – Elite Music Camps in Spain: beyond the notes
2:18:00 – Final thoughts: execution over ideas & looking ahead
 
 
Join the Trumpet Academy: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-academy-6100
 
 
 

EP 8: Sean Payne on Perfect Pitch, Learning Obsession & Musical Truth

In this episode of The Louis Dowdeswell Podcast, I sit down with the phenomenal saxophone player and fellow music school alum, Sean Payne.
We go deep—from our early gigs and pub chats to intense topics like perfect pitch, internalising music, composition philosophies, circular breathing, and the psychology of practice. Sean shares what it means to be a "serial learner" and why musical breakthroughs often come from reducing things to their simplest forms.
You'll hear us talk about:
The myth of perfect pitch and how it can actually be developed
Writing jazz melodies without rhythmic crutches
The emotional reason most people don’t improve
How listening habits shape your entire sound
Why Sean refuses to slow solos down when transcribing
And what Michael Brecker, Wayne Shorter, Joey Calderazzo & Cannibal Adderley all taught him indirectly
This one's a goldmine for sax players, jazz musicians, teachers, and anyone obsessed with getting better at their craft—no fluff, just real talk from the trenches.
 
Join the Trumpet Academy: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-academy-6100
 
 
🧠 Real musicianship. Real learning. Real stories.Come join us inside the mind of one of the UK’s most exciting young jazz voices.
 
 
📍 Timestamps / Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome & intro to Sean Payne03:14 – Internalising music: “If you can’t hear it, you can’t play it”08:45 – Perfect pitch: Myth, memory & training15:20 – Developing pitch through singing in unfamiliar keys20:33 – Altissimo register & limiting beliefs28:40 – Circular breathing story from the pub33:12 – What Sean’s learning now: melody-rhythm39:50 – The art of leaving space in writing47:10 – Does prescription kill creativity in large ensembles?56:45 – Minimalism in writing: what Miles, Wayne & Coltrane taught us1:02:10 – Transcribing vs understanding: deeper than just notes1:08:02 – Pattern playing, originality & Joey Calderazzo’s brutal honesty1:20:15 – Practicing without your instrument1:24:40 – Tonguing, tempo, and mental “sloppiness”1:30:11 – Deep listening: why 3 albums are better than 3001:37:33 – Music vs lawnmowers: finding your sound in an age of overwhelm1:44:00 – What people really mean when they “don’t have time to practice”1:51:18 – Why Sean won't copy Brecker anymore1:57:20 – The difference between wanting an outcome & doing the work2:04:00 – Wrap-up: the mental game of mastery

Part 2: Simon Gardner Opens Up: A Spiritual Story About Loss, Grief & Life After Death

In this very special conversation, trumpet legend Simon Gardner opens up to Louis about his personal spiritual experience during the final weeks of his late wife's life. What starts as a simple chat turns into one of the most powerful, vulnerable, and hope-filled stories we've ever shared on this channel.
Simon talks about:
Coping with terminal illness as a partner
Going sober through grief
Witnessing unexplained spiritual phenomena
What he believes happens after we die
The comfort and peace that carried him through unimaginable pain
Whether you're spiritual, religious, or simply curious—this story is for anyone seeking comfort in the face of loss.
👉 Join the Trumpet Academy: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-a...
⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Simon's spiritual story preview01:40 – Losing faith after childhood Catholicism03:10 – Simon’s wife diagnosed with terminal cancer05:00 – Going sober to face grief head-on06:45 – The moment it happened: seeing “wisps”08:00 – A spirit goes through his chest—morphine-like euphoria09:30 – The message: “Everything’s going to be okay”12:10 – What Simon believes about the afterlife14:20 – Seeing the spirits in the hospice16:15 – Why people need to hear this18:20 – Coming out the other side of grief20:00 – Moving forward with love and new life22:30 – Words of hope for anyone facing loss
#SimonGardner #SpiritualExperience #LifeAfterDeath #GriefJourney #TrumpetCommunity #LouisDowdeswell #HopeAfterLoss #FaithAndMusic #HealingThroughGrief #TrumpetPodcast #MusicAndSpirit #LossAndLove #FindingPeace

EP 7: Simon Gardner on Lead Trumpet Legacy, Maynard High Notes & Surviving the Session Scene

In this powerful episode of the Louis Dowdeswell Podcast, legendary British lead trumpet player Simon Gardner shares untold stories from decades on the London music scene. From playing with Derek Watkins to discovering Maynard Ferguson, Simon reveals his journey from school band to West End pit, along with heartfelt advice for the next generation.
Whether you're chasing a Super C or just trying to survive 8 shows a week, this chat is packed with practical wisdom, hilarious tour stories, and brass geekery you won’t hear anywhere else.
Topics Include:
Simon’s first trumpet—won by singing a scale
Playing along to Glenn Miller, Sinatra, and Maynard
Learning by ear vs traditional practice
Recording tips for section blend & feel
The reality of West End gigs & balancing family life
Creating the Super C Big Band in tribute to Derek Watkins
🎧 Listen now and get inspired to embrace your own sound—with all its imperfections.
🕒 Timestamps / Highlights:00:00 – Intro & warm welcome to Simon Gardner03:00 – Simon’s hilarious first encounter with the trumpet07:40 – Learning lead parts from Glenn Miller LPs11:45 – Hearing Maynard Ferguson for the first time: mind blown15:30 – Chasing sound over range: lessons from Conrad Gozzo21:20 – Playing high vs. playing musically26:00 – Derek Watkins stories & the birth of the Super C Big Band32:15 – Teaching at RAM: Louis & Simon’s candid lesson memories36:50 – Recording tips: perfection vs humanity in music42:30 – “Play behind the beat”—but not too behind!47:10 – Big band timing, blend & the illusion of perfection51:50 – Simon’s solo album & multitracking brass sections55:00 – Time, tone & why sound is your musical fingerprint59:30 – West End life: the reality behind 8 shows a week1:04:00 – The biggest change in the London session scene1:09:20 – Advice to young players: say yes, show up, play everything1:12:00 – Closing thoughts & gratitude
👉 Join the Trumpet Academy: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-a...
#TrumpetPodcast #LouisDowdeswell #SimonGardner #LeadTrumpet #BigBandLife #DerekWatkins #MaynardFerguson #WestEndMusician #TrumpetTips #JazzTrumpet #ConradGozzo #MusicIndustryAdvice #RecordingTrumpet #TrumpetSound #SessionMusician #SuperCBigBand #TrumpetLegends #BrassTalk #TrumpetInspiration #PracticeTips

EP 6: Humility, Belief, and Storytelling: A Deep Conversation with Samuel Walters

Join Louis and Sam Walters (founder of Vibrantics) as they dive into belief, humility, and storytelling in creative growth. They discuss fear, taking leaps, building the Trumpet Academy, and why humility—not ego—unlocks real progress. Perfect for musicians, creators, and entrepreneurs seeking clarity and inspiration.
0:00 – Welcome & IntroductionLouis introduces Sam, the first non-musician guest, and their work building the Trumpet Academy.
2:35 – Who is Sam Walters?Sam shares his journey cycling Japan while running a business and meeting Louis.
5:40 – Why This Conversation MattersAligning the podcast around intention, belief, and transformation.
8:05 – What Sam’s Agency DoesExplaining how Vibrantics helps creators monetize their expertise through education.
10:45 – Overcoming Fear & Taking the LeapLouis shares initial fears and what led him to start the academy.
13:22 – Why Belief is EverythingSam on why failures shape success and the importance of courage in taking action.
16:50 – The Limiting Beliefs Creators FaceExploring why many people struggle to see what’s possible.
19:40 – Learning Through ImitationLouis explains why imitation is critical for musicians and entrepreneurship alike.
23:00 – The Power of StorytellingSam shares why he believes stories inspire belief and why he plans to build an animation studio.
26:30 – What Makes a Great Story?Sam explains that it’s about how a story makes you feel, not just how many people it reaches.
29:20 – Louis on Humility vs. Self-BeliefHow humility (not self-deprecation) is the true foundation for growth.
33:15 – Golf, Trumpet, and Being Bad FirstLouis explains why accepting being bad at something is key to learning.
36:50 – Paradigms and Questioning BeliefsSam on how people accept limiting beliefs without questioning if they serve them.
40:40 – Objective Truth vs. RelativismLouis discusses why believing in objective truth creates clear paths for growth.
43:55 – What’s Next for Louis?Louis shares his vision for the Trumpet Academy and why he now lives each day openly, ready for opportunities.JOIN THE TRUMPET ACADEMY:Learn from world-class instructors: https://www.skool.com/louis-trumpet-academy-6100?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaedbprFaehIhwsSpPAyDOStYIWt-cIS31AbGVTgLfdthBQuA8ccUwYRU0SgaemKe8Kq1eYfQbnaR_dPVXRoQ
📱 FOLLOW LOUIS:Instagram:   / louistpt  YouTube:    / chickentiko  Facebook:   / louisdowdeswellmusic  Website: https://louisdowdeswell.com
#LouisDowdeswell #TrumpetAcademy #SamWalters #MusicianMindset #CreativeGrowth #Storytelling #Humility #Belief #ArtistJourney #EntrepreneurMindset

EP 5: Jazz Legend Bobby Shew on The Importance of Internalisation, Rhythm & Playing with Emotion

Trumpet legend Bobby Shew joins me for one of the most honest, eye-opening conversations I’ve ever had. From his early days sneaking into jazz clubs, to bleeding on stage with Buddy Rich, to walking away from the L.A. studio scene—Bobby shares it all.
 
We talk about:
Finding your voice as a musician
The myth of perfection Why most players overblow
The importance of internal rhythm and relative pitch
How emotion—not just mechanics—shapes your playing
His views on education, mouthpieces, and mentorship
This isn’t just for trumpet players. It’s for anyone trying to make music with honesty.
Highlights:
00:03 — “I didn’t grow up in a musical family. But there was a trumpet in a closet—and that changed my life.”
09:12 — “Most musicians don’t realise: music came before language. It’s about vibration, not perfection.”
21:05 — “A good relative pitch ear and internal rhythm—that’s what you want. Not perfect pitch.”
26:42 — “It’s not the drummer. It’s the bass player who makes it groove.”
36:09 — “Practicing without emotion teaches you to play without emotion.”
43:57 — “If a teacher can’t explain why you’re doing something—don’t do it.”
48:30 — “Play free. No bar lines. No rules. Just play what you feel.”
55:22 — “The biggest mistake in education? Teaching from the page instead of from the soul.”
01:01:18 — “Every dollar I made after 1982 came from doing what I loved: teaching and jazz.”
01:09:45 — “You can impress people or you can touch people. Choose.”
01:18:52 — “The mouthpiece is a mirror. If you can’t play it, you can’t play the horn.”
01:26:14 — “Overblowing and playing too tight—that’s what kills most chops.”
01:36:22 — “Start beginners on smaller mouthpieces. It’s not about tradition—it’s about physiology.”
01:45:10 — “Play with feel. Not just volume. Especially if you’re second trumpet.”
01:52:05 — “You don’t need perfect teeth to sound great. Just listen to Al Porcino.”