Description
This series of mouthpieces is inspired by the legendary Charlie Shavers Jet-Tone model. The rim is very wide, slightly round and very comfortable. The cup is shallow (similar to Bach E). The original rim and cup specs have been preserved, and combined with the Legends enhanced throat (#27), throat cylinder length, and Legends S backbore. These design modifications maximize endurance, range and sound for the player. Slotting with each of the JT CS models is excellent. These mouthpieces are kept in stock in the Legends JT blank, which is a perfect mix of weight: just enough mass to enhance slotting with a big core, but not so much mass that the sound won’t sizzle! This model is available in various inside diameters ranging from .590″ – 650″.
8/30/2019, from a review submitted by professional trumpet player Randy Dunn: The mouthpiece felt great, and it also sounded great, and it was incredibly easy to blow in all registers, and most surprising, my lips didn’t feel the least bit tired, even though I had been playing the trumpet all day already (with my old mouthpieces.) The new Legends Brass mouthpiece instantly made [the high] notes sound fatter, louder, and fuller, and I was able to play them with very little effort. (Those notes that are 5 ledger lines up above the staff now feel like all of the other notes that are below them: Like they are “normal” notes—notes that I totally “own” now.) Read the full review here.
Charlie Shavers Bio
Charlie Shavers (8/3/1920 – 7/8/1971) was a trumpet player who rose to fame during the swing era of jazz. Music was part of the culture of his childhood. His father and older brother were also accomplished trumpet players, and Shavers himself played piano and banjo before switching to trumpet. During his extensive career of over 40 years, Shavers played with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams, Billie Holiday and many others.
Shavers’ professional career began in the mid 1930’s, when he played in the trumpet section of Frankie Fairfax’s Campus Club Orchestra along with Dizzy Gillespie and Carl (Bama) Warwick. As early as 1936, at the age of 16, he joined John Kirby’s Sextet as trumpet soloist and arranger. This was the heyday of “The Biggest Little Band in the Land”, as the Sextet was known, and Shavers’ solos and arrangements contributed greatly to the success. During his seven-year stint there he composed “Undecided” which became a hit for Ella Fitzgerald and is considered a jazz standard.
By 1944 he began playing sessions with Raymond Scott’s orchestra at CBS. In 1945, he joined Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra as a regular soloist. He toured and recorded with Tommy Dorsey off and on until 1953. During these years he also played with the Metronome All-Stars and made several recordings with Billie Holiday.
During the 1950’s and 60’s, Shavers was busy playing trumpet all over the world. In 1953-54 he played with Benny Goodman. At that time, he also toured Europe with Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic. During the Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, the wildly popular trumpet battles between Shavers and Roy Eldridge thrilled audiences. He played in, led, or co-led many smaller groups, and recorded with such greats as Nat “King” Cole and Buddy Rich. He performed in Japan, Hong Kong, Canada and South America.
The legendary Charlie Shavers died in 1971 at the age of 50. He is regarded as one of the best trumpet players of all time. He was a true virtuoso, master of all genres of jazz. Trumpet players today still admire his brilliant performances and charismatic style.
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