[Dixielandjazz] Philadelphia's Loss is Australia's Gain

[Steve Barbone]

Bret Gufstafson is moving from Philadelphia to Adelaide in South Australia
around the first week of June.

Who? 

Around these parts he is known as the "horn surgeon". He possesses unrivaled
expertise in Brass Instrument and Saxophone repair, and rebuilding.

He has done it all from rebuilding Tubas to repairing antique instruments
for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. He has fixed echo cornets and
euphoniums, and even rebuilt an eight-belled schalmai, once played on the
bows of ships to signal bridge tenders. Also, trombones, saxophones etc.

Satisfied customers include Jazz Saxophonist Bootsie Barnes (locally
famous), as well as the late Grover Washington Jr., Brian Brown, principal
tuba of the Philly Pops, Nitzan Haroz, principal trombone of the
Philadelphia Orchestra and Glenn Dodson, former principal trombone of the
Philadelphia, and many other demanding musicians.

Barnes would say that all you have to do is tell Bret what the horn is doing
and he knows what to do with it. Haroz and Dodson describe him as an artist.
All are very sad that he is leaving.

Gufstafson admits to being a poor businessman in that he never charged
enough, and has no head for accounting. When he arrives in Adelaide, he will
go to work for his friend and fellow Iowa Technical College graduate, Simon
Clarke. If list mates, or other musicians in OZ need an excellent brass
repairman, check Bret out around mid-June.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone