The pursuit of perfection is something that never ends for trumpeter Jim Davis, 80.
This semiretired attorney is so dedicated to his instrument that he continues to practice five days a week, plays a weekly gig in the Cleveland area and has even published a book, Fundamental Exercises for Trumpet Players or How to Strive for Perfection.
His music book focuses on the fundamentals of playing. But to Davis, it’s about much more than scales and exercises that some might think would become repetitive. It’s about the pursuit of excellence itself.
The project came about through the encouragement of Jack Sutte, second trumpet for the Cleveland Orchestra, with whom Davis studied until about three years ago. Sutte had suggested Davis write some trumpet warm-ups but Davis wanted to go further: He wanted to help other trumpet players improve their sound, just as he constantly strives to do.
“Why don’t I go further a little bit and use the exercise theory” to improve sound, articulation, intonation and breath control, Davis asked himself. These were the very things that mattered most to him as a trumpeter.
“Not that I’m a great trumpet player, but I do have some ideas on how to play the horn,” said Davis, who lives in West Akron with his wife of 54 years, Betty.
The book is an expression of Davis’ devotion to his instrument. In it, he encourages trumpet players to use their imagination to improvise with the exercises. He warns that the studies aren’t designed for a quick fix to improve playing — that takes time and patience, but the musician must not despair.
“We can never attain perfection but we can strive for perfection, and that’s really the heart of the book,” said Davis, citing advice that his former teacher, Bernie Adelstein, received from his own teacher, Louis Davidson.
Creating the 13-lesson book has been a labor of love as well as an ongoing project: Since publishing Fundamental Exercises last year, Davis has created an additional lesson that he plans to one day incorporate into his book.
When Davis taught a guest seminar for Sutte’s students at Baldwin Wallace, he gave each of them a copy of his $20 book. He’s sold a few of the 250 copies he had printed but has had difficulty distributing Fundamental Exercises.
“I never intended or expected that I’d make a big pile of money doing something like this,” Davis said. “There are lots and lots of books written by trumpet players for trumpet players. So a new one, an introductory work, has a tough time in the marketplace.”
That’s made it tough promoting the book at music stores, so now Davis is focusing on talking directly to trumpet teachers.
Start in music
The Barberton native began playing cornet when he was 10. He was a busy high school student who joined the musician’s union and played professionally in pit and dance bands. At Ohio State University, Davis spent his first year as a music performance major.
After two years in concert band and three years in the marching band, Davis set the trumpet aside to pursue a career in law. He shelved the instrument for more than two decades as he built his career and raised a family.
“It takes too much time and effort to practice law and build a practice and at the same develop the amount of time necessary to do a decent job on the trumpet,” he explained.
Davis, who still goes into the office periodically at Roderick Linton Belfance, said he finally asked himself at age 43: “What can I do that’s fun?”
That’s when he returned to his early love: the trumpet. Davis said it wasn’t hard to get back into the instrument in the late ’70s. He began practicing again and reached for the top by asking Adelstein — principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra for 28 years — to teach him.
Davis studied with the great trumpeter for four years, which left an indelible mark on his playing.
“Bernie was really one of the great symphony trumpet players in this country,” said Davis; he became close friends with the musician, who now lives in Florida.
“Bernie was very tough but I worked very hard. Sometimes when I did not simply have the time to practice, Bernie knew immediately. On the other hand, when I did a good job, it was wonderful to hear him say ‘Bravo,’ ” Davis said.
Pictured along a wall in Davis’ basement are photos of him with the trumpeters who have meant the most to him in his adult life, including Adelstein in a tux after his final concert with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1988, and another photo with Adelstein and original Canadian Brass member Ronnie Romm. Davis last played in a trio with these great trumpeters during a visit to Florida five years ago.
“A half-assed trumpet player playing with these world-class guys,” the ever self-deprecating Davis mused, smiling at the photo.
Idea for teaching
When Davis talks about his great teachers, he also speaks about how Sutte has instilled in him the notion of how to teach himself. That’s something Davis wasn’t equipped to do until his second time around playing the trumpet, as an older adult.
Now, Davis uses his skill and enthusiasm to entertain a mostly senior crowd Monday nights at the Tavern Company in Cleveland Heights, where he’s a regular with George Foley & Friends, with pianist Foley and bass fiddle player Gene Epstein. The group specializes in ’20s, ’30s and ’40s tunes from the American songbook.
Performing at this neighborhood restaurant/bar is a labor of love: Davis doesn’t get paid.
“I do it ’cause it’s fun,” he said.
In Davis’ basement music room, his trumpet sits next to a music stand, along with the music book Etudes Transcendantes by Theo Charlier. Inside and next to a cupboard are a handful of instruments, including cornets, a flugelhorn, a 1960 trumpet and an 1898 E-flat altonium that he hasn’t played in years.
Sitting down to play some scales and arpeggios, Davis said that he practices about an hour a day, five days a week.
“I take lots of rests,” he said.
He has entertained at jazz clubs such as the former Benito’s in Cuyahoga Falls, and subbed with the River City Jazz Band. He continues to sub with the Night Owls jazz band at Barking Spider Tavern near University Circle in Cleveland.
Davis has done it all over the last several decades, playing in quintets, dance bands and with artists ranging from Cab Calloway to Pat Boone. He also was a pickup artist with the Ice Capades, Ice Follies and Ringling Bros. circus band at the old Richfield Coliseum.
“Every show was different because the [band] leader followed the act,” which changed every night, Davis said of the circus. “That was a hell of a thing, I tell you.”
Arts writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.