Description
The Legends Heim 1 is based on a vintage Holton Heim 1. The rim is medium wide and extremely comfortable for extended jazz performance/session playing. The inside diameter is .624″, which is well suited for upper register notes. The cup is medium deep to deep (similar to Bach A/B) with a slightly convex V shape (somewhere between bowl and straight V). The throat is an open #25, and the backbore is a Legends Chicago which has a broad sound. The Big Daddy blank adds mass, which broadens and darkens the core of sound. This mouthpiece has a unique combination of characteristics which support comfort and efficiency, while enhancing tone and allowing the flexibility desired by jazz professionals.
The Holton Heim 1 that inspired this mouthpiece was originally made by Frank Holton & Co. for the legendary Gustav Heim (1879-1933). Heim was principal trumpet with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (1904-1905), The Philadelphia Orchestra (1905-1906), Boston Symphony Orchestra (1906-1920), Detroit Symphony Orchestra (1920-1921), Philharmonic Society of New York (1921-1923), The Cleveland Orchestra (1923-1924), and New York Symphony Society (1925-1928). In addition, he had a studio in Manhattan where he taught, and of course recommended Holton Heim mouthpieces to his students. Notable students included William Vacchiano and Harry Glantz, among others.
There are two original variations of this mouthpiece, the Heim 1 and Heim 2. The Heim 1 cup is deeper, but otherwise the two mouthpieces are very similar. (See the Legends Brass Heim 2 here). In addition, mouthpieces very similar to the Heim 1 and 2 were created by Joseph Gustat (1888-1951). Gustat recommended his version of the Heim 2 to his student, Miles Davis, who played it for most of his career. Other great jazz trumpeters, such as Enrico Rava, Wallace Roney, Roy Hargrove have used Holton, Gustat, and Kanstul versions of the Heim 1 and 2 mouthpieces. Although first used for symphonic and orchestral music, over the years these mouthpieces have been sought after by professional jazz trumpeters. The flexibility in volume and range, beautiful rich tone, and enhanced endurance they provide allows maximum creativity in a jazz setting.
References:
- O.J.’s Trumpet Page. Gustav Heim. http://ojtrumpet.net/heim/
- MeeuwsenMouthpieces.com. Trumpet “Jazz” cup concepts. http://www.meeuwsenmouthpieces.com/Jazz_Cups.html
- “A trip through the Holton Factory.” (Elkhorn, Wis.: Frank Holton and Co., 1920); Online facsimile at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1211; Visited on: 2/22/2019
- Feldman, Mitchell. On the Road with JazzPar Prize Winner Enrico Rava. Jazz Journalists Association Library 2002. http://www.jazzhouse.org/library/?read=feldman3
