The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer Jay Webb, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:
"Jay Webb Trumpet Interview"
And, find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here
 
You might know him from TikTok, or perhaps any of the myriad projects where he appears: The Hornheads, the Cory Wong and the Wongnotes YouTube series, any number of Broadway orchestra pits, the Grammy-winning 8-Bit Big Band, or most recently his Doc Severinsen tribute project (DST Band).
 
Jay Webb is as versatile as they come, and today he shares his story and advice on how to forge a career in the 2020's.
 
We talk about his late start in reading music, having learned to play by ear first, and then how moving to New Orleans provided a unique musical experience and education.
 
Jay shares insight on the balance between touring and freelancing, and that when bringing his career back to Philadelphia years later, it was thanks to having maintained connections in the music industry that he was able to quickly find more opportunities.
 
You never know who you might connect with and ask you to sub in for a gig, last minute. Jay shows us how to say "Yes" with confidence, and build the professional career that works for you.
 
Don't let someone else define your career!



 
About Jay Webb:
Jay Webb is one of today's most versatile and in demand trumpet players, seamlessly moving between the concert hall, the recording studio, and the world's biggest stages.
 
Whether performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, laying down pristine studio tracks, or sharing the spotlight with artists like Cory Wong, Shakira, Lake Street Dive, Ed Sheeran, Queen Latifah, John Legend, and the Grammy Award–winning 8-Bit Big Band, Jay has earned a reputation as a musician who truly does it all.
 
Born in Hamburg, New Jersey, Jay was introduced to the trumpet at the age of three by his father. His natural ability and sharp ear were evident early on, and by fourth grade he was already playing in the school band. From there, his talent and dedication propelled him into a lifelong career in music.
 
Jay's newest project, The DST Band, is a heartfelt tribute to legendary trumpeter Doc Severinsen. With dazzling recreations of Severinsen's most memorable performances, the ensemble breathes new life into beloved big band classics such as Stardust, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, and Flying Home.
 
Today, Jay is widely recognized as one of the world's premier trumpet players in both live performance and studio settings. Beyond the stage, he is also a highly sought-after clinician, inspiring the next generation of musicians with his artistry and insight.
 
When not touring internationally, Jay remains deeply connected to New York City's vibrant music scene. He can often be found performing in Broadway orchestras and contributing to an array of recording projects, continuing to showcase the versatility and excellence that define his career.
Jay Webb is Yamaha Performance artist, and plays Yamaha horns exclusively.

 
Episode Links:
Website: jaywebbtrumpet.com
Adelante artist management page
Instagram: @JayWebbTrumpet
TikTok: @JayWebbTrumpet

 
Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances:
National Trumpet Festival, March 20-22, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/national-trumpet-competition-valve-alignment-special
Metropolitan Music, April 10-11, Kirkland, WA
https://calendly.com/bobreevesbrass/metropolitan-music-valve-alignment-appointment 

Arkansas Trumpet Day, April 18th, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
 
Podcast Credits:
"A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Cover Photo Credit - Courtesy Jay Webb
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer and recording artist Kyla Moscovich, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:
"Kyla Moscovich Trumpet Interview"
And, find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here
 
At a year old she had a trumpet in her hands, and she hasn't looked back since!
 
Kyla Moscovich has built a burgeoning career that bridges classical, jazz and pop music, performing concerts all over the world and, more recently, developing her studio skills as well, on Grammy-nominated records.
 
She has studied with Vincent Penzarella, Mark Gould, Laurie Frink and Tom Smith, was mentored by Jon Faddis, and was on stage at Carnegie Hall while still in her teens.
 
Kyla's father was close friends with Bob Reeves, and so her potential and trajectory was apparent around the shop from very early days. But, as we talk about today, the trumpet was not necessarily an automatic pursuit.
 
Kyla struggled to balance the expectations of practice and studying music with friends and normal kid activities, as any kid would, and we talk about what it was like growing up in that kind of environment, making the "jump into adulthood" earlier than most of us have.
 
Our conversation today is a fascinating glimpse into how to build a modern career in the music industry playing trumpet, not to mention how to pursue your own musical tastes, and forge a path that's true to you.

 
About Kyla Moscovich:
Growing up in New York City, Kyla got her training from the Manhattan School of Music, studying Orchestral Performance and Arranging.
 
After graduating with her undergraduate degree, she quickly entered into the studio space where she began writing, recording, and arranging, while taking her knowledge of harmony and sound and applying it to her unique musical fingerprint, which can be heard on many world renowned records.

Now based in Los Angeles, multi Grammy nominated writer/arranger Kyla has become one of the most sought-after horn producers, collaborating with artists such as J. Cole, Drake, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Victoria Monét, Céline Dion, Diana Ross, and more.
 
Episode Links:
Website
Instagram @kyla_moscovich
Kyla on Just For The Record

 
Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances:
Dillon Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey
[email protected]

National Trumpet Festival, March 20-22, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/national-trumpet-competition-valve-alignment-special

Metropolitan Music, April 10-11, Kirkland, WA
https://calendly.com/bobreevesbrass/metropolitan-music-valve-alignment-appointment 

Arkansas Trumpet Day, April 18th, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
 
Podcast Credits:
"A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Cover Photo Credit - Courtesy Kyla Moscovich
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring Mariachi trumpet performer and recording artist José Hernández, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:
"José Hernández trumpet interview"
And, find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here
 
Few people have had a greater impact on Mariachi music over the past 50 years than José Hernández, and today José joins us to share his musical upbringing, his influences and education, his passion for education and some very interesting insights on balancing a professional music career with business ventures, such as his restaurants.
 
José is a composer, arranger, performer and recording artist, including being a key musical coordinator on Linda Ronstadt's landmark 1987 Spanish album, Canciones de Mi Padre, where he helped guide her pronunciation and the Mariachi direction of the music.
 
Plus, he continues to inspire younger generations through his educational programs, and founding two world-famous ensembles: Mariachi Sol de México®, and Reyna de Los Ángeles®, America's first all-female professional mariachi ensemble.
 
José is, relatively speaking, just down the road from us here at Bob Reeves Brass in Valencia, CA, so if you're in LA make sure to drop by both our shop and the Casa del Sol Cocina down in Irvine, for amazing food and entertainment! On Saturdays, the master could be there himself!
About José Hernández:
José Hernández is an internationally renowned Mariachi musician, composer, educator and cultural ambassador. He is the founder and musical force behind Mariachi Sol de México, the trailblazing Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles, the Mariachi Heritage Society and the Mariachi Rams, in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams.
 
Born on August 27, 1958, in Mexicali, Baja California, José comes from a proud lineage of mariachis and musicians, with family musical roots tracing back to the 1700s. He was named after his grandfather, José Hernández, a musician born in 1901 in Jalisco, Mexico, who helped lay the musical foundation that would inspire future generations.
 
In 1981, José founded Mariachi Sol de México® with a bold vision: to expand the boundaries of mariachi music and elevate the genre beyond its traditional roots in ranchera and golden-age Mexican cinema. Under his leadership, the ensemble has become a global ambassador for Mariachi, known for its musical excellence and genre-blending innovation.
 
Throughout his illustrious career, José has been nominated for four American Grammy Awards and nine Latin Grammys. He has collaborated with a remarkable roster of artists, including Vicente and Alejandro Fernández, Luis Miguel, Marco Antonio Solís, Lola Beltrán, Celia Cruz, Selena, Vikki Carr, Linda Ronstadt, Arturo Sandoval, José Feliciano, the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and The Beach Boys.
 
Today, José Hernández continues to perform, compose, and educate while working on his highly anticipated autobiography, which will reflect on his 50-year career and the profound impact of mariachi music on American culture and the global stage.
Episode Links:
Website: mariachisoldemexico.com
Restaurant: casadelsoloc.com
Instagram @mariachisoldemexicodejosehdz
Instagram @jh_maestro_sol
Facebook @mariachisoldemexicodejosehernandez
Rhapsody for Mariachi
La Voz de Mi Trompeta
Doc Severinsen & Jose Hernandez - Concierto de Aranjuez
Linda Ronstadt album, Canciones de Mi Padre

 
Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances:
Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Feb. 11-14, San Antonio, Texas
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/tmea-valve-alignment-special
Dillon Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey
[email protected]

National Trumpet Festival, March 20-22, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/national-trumpet-competition-valve-alignment-special

Metropolitan Music, April 10-11, Seattle, WA
https://metropolitan-music.com

Arkansas Trumpet Day, April 18th, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
 
Podcast Credits:
"A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Cover Photo Credit - José Hernández
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter performer and recording artist Johnny Thirkell, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:

"Johnny Thirkell trumpet interview"
 
Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here:
https://bobreeves.com/blog/johnny-thirkell-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-149
 
About Johnny Thirkell:
In a long and varied career, Johnny Thirkell has an impressive record of achievements and unparalleled experience as a trumpet player, producer and latterly as a tech entrepreneur. 
Upon leaving Leeds College of Music, he studied trumpet in New York with the great Carmine Caruso before embarking on a playing career which would see him perform in many genres of music at the highest level. From the B.B.C. Radio Orchestra through the Buddy Rich & Gil Evans Orchestras, and on in to the Rock & Pop industry, Johnny established himself as a versatile and adaptable musician of the highest calibre.​
A measure of his success lies in the fact that his trumpet playing featured on at least 1 album in the UK album chart, continuously, without a break for over 13 years, and at one point he was playing on 11 of the top 50 albums in a single week. 
He has performed on over 6000 recordings, more than 100 top ten albums and 38 US & UK No.1 records, including the recent BTS global smash "Dynamite."
​
A natural progression along the way was into record production, and he has produced (or co-produced) over 250 commercial releases, and co-written many of the songs. Indeed, he has had over 500 songs published, including songs for artists as diverse as The Spice Girls (he co-wrote their early songs), Odyssey & The Three Degrees. 
In recent years he has focused on building and selling a number of businesses in the music and technology space. Johnny also enjoys employing his communication skills and experience through writing and speaking, and is the Founder of Elite Music Camps - offering week-long residential music courses taught by some of the finest musicians in the world.
 
Episode Links:
Buy the book, Blown It, Johnny's stories from his amazing life!
Website: johnnythirkell.com
Elite Music Camps:  elitemusiccamps.com

Instagram: (@johnnythirkell)
Facebook: (@johnnythirkell)
 
Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances:
Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Feb. 11-14, San Antonio, Texas
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/tmea-valve-alignment-special
Dillon Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey
[email protected]

National Trumpet Festival, March 20-22, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
https://trumpetmouthpiece.com/products/national-trumpet-competition-valve-alignment-special

Metropolitan Music, April 10-11, Seattle, WA
https://metropolitan-music.com

Arkansas Trumpet Day, April 18th, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
 
Podcast Credits:
"A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Cover Photo Credit - Johnny Thirkell
Blog Photo Credits - David Harrison
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. Makers of the finest handcrafted #trumpet, #trombone & #frenchhorn mouthpieces since 1968.
Visit https://bobreeves.com to find your next mouthpiece and trumpet accessory! 

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:

"The Other Side of the Bell Holiday Special 2025!"
Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here:
https://bobreeves.com/blog/holiday-special-john-snell-and-friends-the-other-side-of-the-bell-148
 
John gets some good friends together to toast the end of one year, and the start of the next: it's our 2025 Holiday Special - perhaps the first annual? It was a lot of fun, so we might just start a new trend!
 
Eric Baker, Mike Zonshine, Kenny Rampton, Liesl Whitaker and the voice of Vinnie Ciesielski are here to share some highlights of the year, musical and otherwise, and things to look forward to in the new year.
 
Join us for a rousing conversation on such diverse topics as:
Eric sharing his trick for playing a great horse neiiighhh on the trumpet, perhaps the bane of trumpet players' existence over the holidays.

Mike's recent outdoor concert in Los Angeles, playing arrangements by none other than Keith Snell, John's dad.

Kenny's holiday menu, centered around the Big Green Egg, might be a small reflection of a mid-life crisis?

Liesl sharing some holiday family traditions in the Whitaker/Rampton household.

And a great update from the voice of Vinnie - he talks about his new Christmas album, the inspiring sight of hearing kindergarteners talk about Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, and the story behind the recording itself: forced at the last minute to go from a first-class studio to recording remotely. But they pulled it off in less than 30 days, just in time for Black Friday!
 
There's a great shout out to Will Leathers, some fantastic trivia, everyone's favorite holiday songs to play, and some poignant and heartful wishes for the new year.
 
Thank you to all our viewers and listeners for a great year, it's been a pleasure to bring you more episodes of The Other Side of the Bell in 2025, and we'll keep up the production in 2026.
 
And don't forget to check out our partner podcasts, The Trombone Corner and The Horn Signal, including our Trombone Corner Holiday Episode, with John, co-host Noah Gladstone, and special guests Jay Friedman and Michael Dease
The Trombone Corner Holiday Episode

 
Episode Guest Links:
Eric Baker, Trumpets Mic'd Up
Mike Zonshine
Liesl Whitaker
Kenny Rampton
Vinnie Ciesieulski

 
Bob Reeves Brass Upcoming Events and Appearances:
Trumpet Festival of the Southeast, Jan. 17, 2026, Kennesaw State University, Georgia

Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Feb. 11-14 2026, San Antonio, Texas

Dylan Music, Feb. 26-28, Woodbridge, New Jersey

 
Podcast Credits:
"A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg