The Louis Dowdeswell Podcast

"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

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.

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

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

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 Payne
03:14 – Internalising music: “If you can’t hear it, you can’t play it”
08:45 – Perfect pitch: Myth, memory & training
15:20 – Developing pitch through singing in unfamiliar keys
20:33 – Altissimo register & limiting beliefs
28:40 – Circular breathing story from the pub
33:12 – What Sean’s learning now: melody-rhythm
39:50 – The art of leaving space in writing
47:10 – Does prescription kill creativity in large ensembles?
56:45 – Minimalism in writing: what Miles, Wayne & Coltrane taught us
1:02:10 – Transcribing vs understanding: deeper than just notes
1:08:02 – Pattern playing, originality & Joey Calderazzo’s brutal honesty
1:20:15 – Practicing without your instrument
1:24:40 – Tonguing, tempo, and mental “sloppiness”
1:30:11 – Deep listening: why 3 albums are better than 300
1:37:33 – Music vs lawnmowers: finding your sound in an age of overwhelm
1:44:00 – What people really mean when they “don’t have time to practice”
1:51:18 – Why Sean won't copy Brecker anymore
1:57:20 – The difference between wanting an outcome & doing the work
2:04:00 – Wrap-up: the mental game of mastery