“The Trumpet found me”
U.S. Air Force veteran and New School jazz trumpeter Austin Simmons discusses his story story with the Center for Military-Affiliated Students.
What did music sound like in your house growing up? Where did it live in your early years?
I started playing trumpet at the age of 10, although I always say that I didn’t find the trumpet but that the trumpet found me. I remember the middle school I would be attending had the band directors visit my 5th grade music class with a variety of brass and woodwind instruments. I had my eyes on the saxophone and for some reason I was just drawn to the way it looked. Later that summer my middle school held a seminar for students who wanted to join band to tryout the instrument they were most interested in. To make it short I was told my fingers were too small to play the saxophone and was given the trumpet to try out instead. The rest is history and I’ve never looked back since then.
Paint a picture of where you grew up. How did those places shape the person you became?
I was originally born in Amarillo Texas but spent some years as kid moving around the state from city’s like Alvin, Friendswood and Galveston. I like to just say I’m from Houston Texas because that’s where I spent most of my youth growing up.
I use to always disassociate my self from being a Texan when I was younger especially when I started moving around different states a lot after I left home for the military. I sometimes felt like I didn’t belong there but as I got older I realized you take the man out of Texas but you can’t take the Texan out of a man.
I did have a very good family growing up and was fortunate to be around good parents that always taught me how to be self sufficient and respectful to others which is something I’m so thankful for now the older I get.
“I sometimes felt like I didn’t belong there but as I got older I realized you take the man out of Texas but you can’t take the Texan out of a man.”
I didn’t have any family members growing up that really knew how to play an instrument. I did how ever seem to be around family members that always listened to really great music.
I do have memories of playing the piano at my grandma’s house every time I’d come to visit to which I must have been around 4 or 5 years old at that time.
Even when I wasn’t taking music seriously during my youth I remember always being fascinated by sounds.
Take me to one of your earliest performances. What do you remember, and what did it teach you?
“I sometimes felt like I didn’t belong there but as I got older I realized you take the man out of Texas but you can’t take the Texan out of a man.”
My family has always been so supportive of me in my passion for playing music.
I don’t think there’s anyone in particular that stands out more than the other when came to encouraging me to keep pursing my dream.
Some of my favorite teachers not only encouraged me to keep playing music but also taught me many lessons about life. Some of those names are Beth Lee, Paul Rousse and Joel Joyner.
There has been so many live performances over the years that have influenced my trumpet playing but the one that has stuck out the most to me is when I had the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall with my high school band.
It’s still the most beautiful sounding venue I’ve ever played at in my entire life.
That experience taught me what true beauty in music can sound like. It also confirmed that trumpet would be what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
My family has always been so supportive of me in my passion for playing music. I don’t think there’s anyone in particular that stands out more than the other when came to encouraging me to keep pursing my dream.
Some of my favorite teachers not only encouraged me to keep playing music but also taught me many lessons about life. Some of those names are Beth Lee, Paul Rousse and Joel Joyner.
Who were the people who believed in you along the way, and what did they give you?
Whose playing do you find yourself coming back to, and what is it about their sound?
There are so many trumpet players I admire and it constantly changes depending on the mood I’m in.
Some trumpet players that I admire are Antoine Drye, Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, Tony Fruscella, Donald Byrd Roy Hargrove and Art Farmer.
Of course there are so many more that have influenced me but they all share a common theme which is they play very lyrically. For me I want to sound as if I’m singer when playing through the horn.
Originally what motivated me the most to serve was the fact that I’d be able to travel.
After about two years I realized that the military was more than just about traveling but about being apart of something greater than myself.
I learned so many life lessons in such a short period of time. It really forced me to grow up at such a young age and I’m truly grateful for that.
“For me I want to sound as if I’m singer when playing through the horn.”
Beyond jazz, what sounds and experiences have found their way into your playing?
Whose playing do you find yourself coming back to, and what is it about their sound?
What did music sound like in your house growing up? Where did it live in your early years?
Yes there are many other genres and experiences outside of Jazz that have influenced my playing. Some of those genres are country, southern rock, folk, R&B, classical, indie, ambient, neo soul, blues, rap and reggae music just to name a few.
I really try not label my self as just a Jazz musician. I’m always curious to learning and playing different types of music. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of playing with a variety of funk bands, ska band’s and church groups to name a few.
I’ve even had the chance to study and perform Indian classical music. I feel as if had I boxed my self into only Jazz then I wouldn’t have had those types of play experiences.
I’m always revisiting recordings and performances I’ve listened to in the past.
Some records that I’ve been revisiting are Hats-The Blue Nile, Hangin’ On- Waylon Jennings and The Touch Of Your Lips- Chet Baker.