[Dixielandjazz] mouthpieces

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

I seem to remember it was Steve Voce who reported Billy Butterfield in a state 
of high inspiration shouting "who needs a mouthpiece!" and proceeding to play 
his trumpet without one. 

I know a good note can be played on a trumpet without a mouthpiece because I 
managed to do it myself.  Of course I was able to play several other good notes 
with a mouthpiece in the trumpet, but not in any meaningful sequence..  


I gather it is now possible to acquire a trumpet from which the mouthpiece 
cannot be removed, and even one of those with the mouthpiece cut in such a way 
as to be able to damage lips even worse than could be done playing the more 
usual sort with mouthpiece removed.  This would seem to take silly complaining 
about mouthpieces to a new level of lunacy.  It also costs money, and I suppose 
the mouthpiece would have to be remodelled if the poor sod who wanted the 
supposed extreme of responsiveness rendered himself incapable and wanted to 
sell the horn as of no further use to him.