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
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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 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
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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 preview
01:40 – Losing faith after childhood Catholicism
03:10 – Simon’s wife diagnosed with terminal cancer
05:00 – Going sober to face grief head-on
06:45 – The moment it happened: seeing “wisps”
08:00 – A spirit goes through his chest—morphine-like euphoria
09:30 – The message: “Everything’s going to be okay”
12:10 – What Simon believes about the afterlife
14:20 – Seeing the spirits in the hospice
16:15 – Why people need to hear this
18:20 – Coming out the other side of grief
20:00 – Moving forward with love and new life
22:30 – Words of hope for anyone facing loss
#SimonGardner #SpiritualExperience #LifeAfterDeath #GriefJourney #TrumpetCommunity #LouisDowdeswell #HopeAfterLoss #FaithAndMusic #HealingThroughGrief #TrumpetPodcast #MusicAndSpirit #LossAndLove #FindingPeace
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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 Gardner
03:00 – Simon’s hilarious first encounter with the trumpet
07:40 – Learning lead parts from Glenn Miller LPs
11:45 – Hearing Maynard Ferguson for the first time: mind blown
15:30 – Chasing sound over range: lessons from Conrad Gozzo
21:20 – Playing high vs. playing musically
26:00 – Derek Watkins stories & the birth of the Super C Big Band
32:15 – Teaching at RAM: Louis & Simon’s candid lesson memories
36:50 – Recording tips: perfection vs humanity in music
42:30 – “Play behind the beat”—but not too behind!
47:10 – Big band timing, blend & the illusion of perfection
51:50 – Simon’s solo album & multitracking brass sections
55:00 – Time, tone & why sound is your musical fingerprint
59:30 – West End life: the reality behind 8 shows a week
1:04:00 – The biggest change in the London session scene
1:09:20 – Advice to young players: say yes, show up, play everything
1:12:00 – 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
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Ep 06: 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 & Introduction
Louis 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 Matters
Aligning the podcast around intention, belief, and transformation.
8:05 – What Sam’s Agency Does
Explaining how Vibrantics helps creators monetize their expertise through education.
10:45 – Overcoming Fear & Taking the Leap
Louis shares initial fears and what led him to start the academy.
13:22 – Why Belief is Everything
Sam on why failures shape success and the importance of courage in taking action.
16:50 – The Limiting Beliefs Creators Face
Exploring why many people struggle to see what’s possible.
19:40 – Learning Through Imitation
Louis explains why imitation is critical for musicians and entrepreneurship alike.
23:00 – The Power of Storytelling
Sam 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-Belief
How humility (not self-deprecation) is the true foundation for growth.
33:15 – Golf, Trumpet, and Being Bad First
Louis explains why accepting being bad at something is key to learning.
36:50 – Paradigms and Questioning Beliefs
Sam on how people accept limiting beliefs without questioning if they serve them.
40:40 – Objective Truth vs. Relativism
Louis 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
Join me, Louis Dowdeswell, a Trumpet Player from London on my journey to find the truth of all things! I plan to start off by exploring the process of learning and discuss hard truths of being a professional in this industry by interviewing some of the world’s most established and successful players. The next stage is to broaden into other industries to see where the music industry compares to the wider world and continue outwards until we find the answers to the many questions life throws our way. Thank you for listening and being a participant in this journey alongside me. I’m excited to see where this adventure leads!
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