Trumpet ace Muirhead going strong at 83
Al Muirhead, 83, is in the spotlight for the first time with solo records
It took a few decades for Al (Oop) Muirhead to become a solo recording artist but it was definitely worth the wait.
Muirhead, 83, has been a side player on more than 25 albums but only recently stepped into the studio with trumpet in hand for a solo project.
In 2014 he released It’s About Time on Chronograph Records. He followed up with Oop! in 2016 and Northern Adventures The Canadian Sessions Vol. 1 in 2017.
Keeping up with the “wonderful players” around him was his main concern.
“Here’s this old guy still trying to do it and these young guys are at the top of their game and helping me along as much as they can,” said Muirhead. “In the meantime, I think the albums came out well. It was a little better than I anticipated, let’s put it that way.”
That might be an understatement since It’s About Time was nominated for a Juno Award in 2016 for solo jazz album.
“I was absolutely blown away,” Muirhead said from his home in Calgary. “My God, I was 79 when we recorded the album, so just to be nominated was a tremendous honour. And, of course, I was playing with Tommy Banks, who passed away in December, and PJ Perry, two really good friends. “We were all thrilled about that.” Muirhead grew up in Regina and was playing in dance bands by the age of 12. He became first trumpet with the Regina Symphony Orchestra when he was in his early 20s.
Now, after a career of almost 70 years, Muirhead knows his limits.
“Of course I can’t play like I once did, I don’t have the stamina or the range or the things you need on a trumpet to play these days. However, I still solo a lot with the bands,” said Muirhead. For this tour, he’s playing the bass trumpet — it’s easier to handle and unique in jazz.
Muirhead was worried about the toll that touring would take, but he’s got no retirement plans.
“If I can still play and they want me to do another recording, why not?”
In concert, he’s got an all-star band behind him: Reg Schwager on guitar, Kelly Jefferson on sax, Neil Swainson on bass and Ted Warren on drums.
Jefferson, Warren and Muirhead are past recipients of the Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition award.