Grachan Moncur III equipment?

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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

as of the last week or so, I`ve been really into Grachan Moncur III`s playing and writing. I`ve been listening alot and I`ve picked up a couple recordings I used to have and a couple I never had.

I was just wondering, what set-up (Mouthpiece & Horn) did/does he play? He`s kind of flown under the radar for years. He has a very interesting concept. Cool sound and his ideas aren`t coming from the standard directions .

Thanks
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chromebone
Posts: 454
Joined: Apr 08, 2018

by chromebone »

I’ve seen many earlier pictures of him with a 3B but I think he also played an Olds Opera at some point and also a Bach 16.
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quiethorn
Posts: 204
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by quiethorn »

He apparently plays a grey mouthpiece :biggrin:

<YOUTUBE id="7fWYkzRJAyY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fWYkzRJAyY</YOUTUBE>

He plays on 1 or 2 tunes on Archie Shepp and Roswell Rudd's "Live in New York." It's on Spotify. I forget which tune(s), but that's where I first heard him.
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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

The mouthpiece could either be a Black Kelly or a Dragon Breath Giddings.

Or a really tarnished bach
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Matt_K
Posts: 4809
Joined: Mar 21, 2018

by Matt_K »

It actually kind of resembles one of the non-transparent blue or similarish blue color to me:

<ATTACHMENT filename="jet black.jpg" index="0">[attachment=0]jet black.jpg</ATTACHMENT>

<ATTACHMENT filename="Mouthpiece.PNG" index="1">[attachment=1]Mouthpiece.PNG</ATTACHMENT>

Looks like that video was 2008 and I don't think the dragons breath was a thing until like 2-3 years ago (?)
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

[quote="Matt K"]Looks like that video was 2008 and I don't think the dragons breath was a thing until like 2-3 years ago (?)[/quote]

Well, not with that attitude. The legend has to start somewhere!
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Posaunus
Posts: 5018
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by Posaunus »

The mouthpiece in this 2008 video sure looks like a Kelly (Lexan plastic) piece, perhaps 12C or possibly 6½AL, in "Crystal Blue."

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.kellymouthpieces.com/kmtrom ... /index.asp">https://www.kellymouthpieces.com/kmtrombonesmall/index.asp</LINK_TEXT>

The trombone appears to be a King 3B. (Bell looks larger than a 2B.)

I must say that - though I am a jazz lover - I am not moved by his playing.
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Matt_K
Posts: 4809
Joined: Mar 21, 2018

by Matt_K »

[quote="harrisonreed"]<QUOTE author="Matt K" post_id="157329" time="1631476627" user_id="48">
Looks like that video was 2008 and I don't think the dragons breath was a thing until like 2-3 years ago (?)[/quote]

Well, not with that attitude. The legend has to start somewhere!
</QUOTE>

Arthur and the titanium mouthpiece in the stone!

[quote="Posaunus"]The mouthpiece in this 2008 video sure looks like a Kelly (Lexan plastic) piece, perhaps 12C or possibly 6½AL, in "Crystal Blue."[/quote]

It might be an old color but I have one that isn’t transparent at all in 1.5G size that’s just a touch brighter than this one. I think the crystal colors came later. I wonder why they don’t seem to have them anymore. I always found the really vibrant colors to be kind of ridiculous in an otherwise brass instrument even when I was a kid. They offered a gold one for awhile or perhaps still do on some models that I’m a little surprised they don’t offer in every size… they might actually get better adoption. The pieces aren’t bad, or at least the trumpet and French horn ones aren’t. I’m not a fan of the trombone ones they have available though.
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dukesboneman
Posts: 935
Joined: Apr 02, 2018

by dukesboneman »

Grachan`s work in the 1960`s and 70`s was incredible.

He`s 84 now. The Now`s the time video is a later one

I hope I can still pick up my horn at 84 (much less still be alive0