Trumpet Player Mike Ponella's News and Comments

• Mike's website received a much needed face lift on September 24th, 2018


• Mike's Notable Compliments, Quotes, Anecdotes, and Comments he has received over his career: 1.My favorite that says it all: Just after finishing one of Toshiko Akiyoshi's exciting/challenging Be-bop compositions, onstage at Carnegie hall, in 1991, our guest Trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard, turned around to me, to give me the "thumbs up" high-sign! Wow! 2.Just after performing a concert with Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy remarked to me that I played a "double high D" on the last note of the perfomance, and said, "I haven't heard that since Jon Faddis." 3.On that drive to the concert I was lucky enough to ride in Dizzy's limousine. He signed his book for me "To Be or Not to Bop." He was going through the book with me, and while looking through the photos, he said "he's dead, he's dead, he's dead." On the way back Dizzy wanted to make a rest/stop for snacks. He paid for both our snacks at the cashier, who proceeded to constantly stare at Dizzy, probably realizing who he is, but shocked to see him in the store. 4.I used to drive Dizzy home occassionally after visiting with him at the Blue Note Jazz Club. On the way, I put my car's radio on to WBGO. Being played was a concert with the Rochester Orchestra featuring, you guessed it, Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy heard it and said "I haven't been paid for that yet!" 5.A few years later I was a member of Dizzy's Band "The United Nation Orchestra" after he passed away. Before I joined new bandleader Paquito D'Rivera called me and said "Mike Ponella, I have a gig for you, a goo one." 6. In 1982, I was speaking to famed trumpeter Lee Loughnane, from the Band Chicago, backstage post concert. He told me to "keep playing" after I told him that I was Principal Trumpeter with the Worlds Fair Orchestra in Knoxville, TN. 7. 1991. Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra alumni Bruce Paulson spoke to me post concert and said,"Mike, I was sitting in the very back of the concert hall. I heard every note you played." 8. 1995. Famed trombonist Slide Hampton talking to famed trumpet and mouthpiece maker Jerome Callet, following the Jazz Masters performance at the NYC Village Vanguard Club. Remarking about the trumpet: "Jerry, Mike's sound is very clear." 9. Trombonist/bandleader Wayne Andre, also TAJO alumni: "Mike, your sound is THE END!" 10. 2010. Randy Brecker commenting on my "G.W.B. Shuffle" release: "Great CD!" 11. Harry Connick Jr. 2008 post performance: "One talented Dude!" 12. Ken Seymour, conductor of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" on Broadway: After my flugelhorn solo (during the show, on mic to the orchestra), on "Papa is A Rolling Stone": "Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Ponella on flugelhorn!" Before that, during the high, precise horn line of "Ball of Confusion" Kenny remarked, "That's pretty!" 13. The next two quotes are from longtime free-lance trumpeter Ross Konikoff: "Hey man, you sounded great as usual carrying the Battaglia Band last night. I don't know how you keep the horn on your mouth with that heat and humidity but you nailed the shit out of the book and made the band sound excellent! That's two so far at Lincoln Center. They sure could use you in that Harlem Renaissance Band on closing night." Next quote from Ross: "Mike Ponella and Jon-Erik Kellso comprise the best two man trumpet section I've ever heard. Both have the ability to not only deliver the charts with perfect accuracy and style, but also to stand up and solo, ballad, or jazz style, with the most beautiful trumpet and cornet sounds anyone would want to hear. What a band!" 14. 1994. I was hired to perform on french horn, as a street musician, for the TV movie Re-union for Mary Tyler Moore and "Rhoda" Valerie Harper. After the scene was finished Valerie asked "Are you a real musician?". Mary replied for me and said "Yes, can't you tell?" I was playing scales, etc., quietly. 15. 1997. I was one of the onstage musicians to perform live in the film "Celebrity" for Woody Allen. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the band members had our names included in the ending credits in bold, big block letters. 16. 2007. For the film "August Rush," I was performing on French Horn once again, outside on stage in Central Park NYC, and also inside a rehearsal room at Columbia University. In this rehearsal scene actor Robin Williams was talking and walking slowly by the orchestra, then started yelling: "Look out, look out!!" He protected us while a ceiling lighting cover was falling down to the floor. No one was injured. 17. Working with famed vocalist Marlene Verplanck, and her husband, composer and arranger Billy. "Mike, you are our favorite trumpeter!" 18. 1983. Just before graduating from New England Conservatory of Music the NEC Jazz orchestra performed the music of famed Bob Brookmeyer. What a thrill it was for me to have Mr. Brookmeyer contact the famed bandleader Mel Lewis, to recommend for me to starting subbing in his group, the Mel Lewis Orchestra. That lead to my start of getting established on a long music performing career in NYC. 19. I had previously had the honor of working with famed trumpeter Clark Terry. On this concert it was part of a short tour with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, performing in Germany. After our perfomance was finished a helper was bringing onstage, Clark Terry in a wheelchair. I haven't seen him in a few years, and he was going blind at that point, but he immediately looked at me and said right away, "Hi Mike , how are you doing?" Amazing! Even despite all his health problems he still put on a great perfomance. 20. Atlantic City. I'll never forget working with Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick. Before the rehearsal started for Dionne Warwick, Burt made a point to dictate to me with one finger, on how to play the trumpet solos during the show, ala Herb Alpert. Good thing I listened to and played along with Herb Alpert's recordings when I started playing trumpet in my early years. Oddly enough, years later, I had performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Herb and his group performed as well. After his performance I said hello to him and relayed the Burt Bacharach story. Since then he had contacted my trumpet maker and it's exciting that he is playing a trumpet designed by that maker Jerome Callet, which is similar to mine as well. 21. Highlight performance 2016: NHK video recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra concert from Jazz at Lincoln Center to advertise the coming of 8K Television. 22. Original song placement "East View" for EPIX Channel "Berlin Station" Season 1, Episode 4.


• Exciting news! Video links on my website have been restored to "A Prarie Home Companion"/Nighthawks performance, as Garrison Keillor negotiated with NPR succesfully.


• At the end of the Nighthawks peformance for the New York Public Library Lions award ceremony last night, featuring Francis Ford Coppola, I was reunited with my favorite Opera conductor/composer, Maestro Anton Coppola, Francis's Uncle. Soon after, actress Talia Shire complimented the band and upon noticing my trumpet indicated that her other uncle had played trumpet as well. Interesting evening. A sad update: Maestro Anton Coppola has passed away, in 2020.


• During the 2020 lockdown due to the Corona Virus crisis,I was asked to participate in a tag team challenge from Jazz at Lincoln Center to perform my own version of Louis Armstrong's intro to "West End Blues." I enyoyed taking part in that. Shortly after that I started a long waited project to test 77 8 Track Tapes that I inherited from my father. Out of the 77 I had to take apart and repair at least 16. Lucklily two of them that I refurbished were High School Jazz Band concerts that I participated in many years ago. Also found were my early recordings when I started playing trumpet at 9 years old.


• Sadly, because of the lockdown, no Memorial Day parades were allowed. I was honored to be contacted by CBS Evening News to participate in "Taps Across America." I submitted my version, that was included in the broadcast. May 25,2020.


• Recommendation Letter from Phil Schaap Curator Jazz at Lincoln Center - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Paul Gemignani, famed Broadway conductor - Click Here to Read Letter

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• Recommendation Letter from George Sanders, New Haven Symphony Orchestra - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Phil DeFranco, NYC free-lance trumpeter, longtime Arts supporter - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Aaron Gandy, NYC conductor/pianist - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from John Landry, Audio, Radio Engineer - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Fred Lassen, Broadway conductor/pianist - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Stewart Lerman, Recording Engineer - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from GinaMcCann, Longtime Performing Arts supporter - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Alan Menken, Disney, Films, Musicals, etc. - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Steve Orich, Conductor, composer, arranger, etc. - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Rick Popolizio, Drummer, educator - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Jeff Saver, Conductor, pianist - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Howard Tavin, Vocalist, bassist, bandleader - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Donn Trenner, Conductor, bandleader, pianist - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Stanley Tucker, Opryland Conductor, pianist - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from Marvin Warshaw, NHSO Personnel Mgr. - Click Here to Read Letter


• Recommendation Letter from John Wilder, Free-lance trumpeter, Arts supporter, etc. - Click Here to Read Letter