“It’s Always About the Music”: William Vacchiano Remembered by (a few of) Those Who Knew Him Best

<p>Hi, this is James Newcomb and I'm excited to republish an episode of the show from way back in February of 2016. This was one of the best received, one of the most downloaded episodes of the first year of the podcast, 2016.</p><p>To this day, it's one of my top highlights of my podcasting career. And at that time I think I realized I'm onto something really special, to talk to people who held someone like William Vacchiano in such high esteem. And it was just a real honor to be a part of it. I think it led to me wanting to take podcasting seriously and make it my career.</p><p>In this biography style episode, you're going to hear Brian Shook, who is the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3oVMnCY" target="_blank">Last Stop, Carnegie Hall</a>.</p><p>It also features Manny Laureano, Ronald Romm, and finally Gerard Schwartz.</p><p>It also features a couple of guests we may or may not hear from in the future...</p><h3>In this episode, you'll hear:</h3><h4>-We meet Don Clarino, founder of the Genco Valve Oil company, patriarch of the Clarino crime family...00:33</h4><ul><li>"...Then I said to my wife, 'for justice, we must go to Don Clarino...'"</li></ul><h4>-Vacchiano's view of the trumpeter's role in the bigger picture...09:45</h4><ul><li>"You're a musician first, the trumpet is how you express the music."</li></ul><h4>-Vacchiano was supposed to play the clarinet...12:00</h4><h4>-"Aside from your tone, your rhythm, your articulation, not bad..." Gerard Schwarz' first lesson w/ Mr. Vacchiano...14:50</h4><ul><li>He got me to play and sound the he wanted - and the way I wanted</li></ul><h4>-Miles Davis and Vacchiano like oil and water...17:30</h4><ul><li>"The horn goes back into the case," said Miles when quizzed on a tricky transposition situation</li></ul><h4>-(Gerard Schwarz) Why Mr. Vacchiano never attended concerts put on by his students...20:37</h4><ul><li>"Gerry, I had no idea you could play like that!"</li></ul><h4>-(Manny Laureano) A style of teaching designed to make the student become their own teacher...2