Jim Manley – King Of the High C’s

Jim Manley

Jim Manley is an American Trumpet/ Flugelhorn, Composer, Arranger, and Clinician located in St. Louis, Missouri U.S.A.

Jim is known in top professional brass circles as the ‘high note’ specialist.

The guy that can play everything up and octave with a big fat beautiful tone and make it all look like a walk in the park.

But of course, there’s a lot more to Jim Manley than stratospheric high notes played with laser-beam accuracy.

Experience the experience of experience

A veteran of over 10,500 gigs and with 17+ albums under his belt Jim brings a wealth of experience to any musical project.

And most importantly, Jim knows what to leave out!

Manley’s trumpet style is a classic example of the three T’s. Taste, Tone, and Technique.

Jim’s work ethic is also a model example of the three P’s. Practice, Patience, and Perseverance.

When observing the process of learning a musical instrument.

There’s a lot of truth in the old adage “we spent the first ten tears learning what to play, and the rest of our life learning what to leave out.”

If you want to learn more about Jim’s musical journey and unique approach to music and teaching trumpet be sure to check out the Music Mind Podcast Episode 2 at the bottom of this page.

Blues with a twist – with a slide actually

The musical challenge

In stark contrast with today’s pop music producer who works to a very narrow, specific formula.

For those of you that have been hanging out for that Hit Song formula here it is:

4 chord song +, tempo @ 116bpm + autotune and most importantly an amazing VIDEO = Hit song

Bonus Hit Song Tip: the chords would be: 4 – 6 – 1 – 5

In the key of G that would be ( C – Em – G – D ) Oops! Now you know the secret!

However, as many of you will know quite often without the video this formula creates an instantly forgettable, mind-numbing three-and-a-half-minute dose of sonic sludge.

On the other hand, the creative music producer is like a sound explorer always on the lookout for new and interesting sound combinations.

A case in point was the recent collaboration with Jim Manley.

The producer’s challenge with the collaboration was: (a) how to present Jim in a musical setting that would be something new and interesting for him, (b) what would be the instrumentation for the music, and; (c) what would we play?

Fortunately, the producer for this session was Brian Hayes.

Brian solved the problem by writing a piece for the session.

And playing it on his Mullens 12 string Pedal Steel Guitar, one of the twenty-nine instruments he plays. Yes, you read correctly twenty-nine!

As a result, we immediately had a new combination of sounds one that Jim had not previously been featured in.

The Guitar challenge

The piece is called Slideaway and is based on a 12-bar blues in the key of C.

In contrast to the standard 12bar blues format. Slideaway has an 8 bar “B” section

Slideaway song form:

A – A – B – A (44 bar song form)

Before you read any further take a listen to Sideaway and see if you can identify each 12 bar section passing.

In addition, can you hear that the “B” section is made up of a chromatic movement moving down a semitone every two bars?

in this case, the ‘B” section began on B7 for two bars then to A7 then Ab7, and finally to G7.

Slideaway: featuring Jim Manley on Trumpet, Brian Hayes on Peadal Steel Guitar and Mike Hayes on Guitar

Connect with Jim Manley via https://jimmanleymusic.com/

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Categories: Jazz Guitar Articles |.