Darwen teenager plays with jazz top brass (From Blackburn Citizen)

Darwen teenager plays with jazz top brass

1:10pm Friday 30th July 2010

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A TEENAGE trumpet sensation has fulfilled his ambition of playing with international jazz legend Bobby Shew.

And Justin Chappell, of Pickup Bank, Darwen, then went one better when he was given a one-to-one music lesson by the master.

The 14-year-old has been playing the trumpet since he was nine, changing from the cornet he first picked up at St Paul’s CE Primary School, Hoddlesden.

At the age of 10 and only 4ft 9inches, he joined the Blackburn with Darwen Senior Big Band, having to stand on a box so he could be seen.

Now, some inches taller, he is lead trumpeter for the band, and to further his experience, has joined the multi-award-winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, which took part in this month’s Wigan Jazz Festival.

It was there that special guest Bobby Shew got on stage with the band and wowed the crowds and fellow musicians. The Darwen Vale pupil said: “It’s hard to put into words how I felt.

“Afterwards I had a lesson with him and it was really beneficial.

“We did a lot of talking rather than playing, but he gave me a lot of advice.”

Justin is thinking of going to music college after his GCSEs, with the possibility of becoming a teacher in the future.

He is also keen on the idea of providing musical accompaniment for big theatre productions in London. With the thought of becoming a professional musician in mind, Justin said dedication and a supportive family was key to success.

He said: “You have to practise at least 15 minutes every day or the muscles in your lips and face relax and you can’t play properly.

“When I go on holiday I have to take my mouthpiece – a five centimetre piece of tubing – and do lots of buzzes with it to keep my mouth perfect.”

He added: “I need to thank my family for their support. I think in the past week my dad has driven me to and from Wigan about 10 times.”

Bobby Shew was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has performed around the world over the past 40 years with big bands.

He has also played on many movie soundtracks, including Rocky, Taxi, Grease and the Muppet Movie.

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