Joe Roughton – Trumpet

When did you start playing your instrument/singing and why?

I’ve wanted to play the trumpet for as long as I can remember.  I started at school aged 7.

What’s your musical background, broadly speaking (bands you’ve been part of in the past, formative listening)?

Classical degree at LCM, before that I was in Calderdale Youth Jazz Orchestra (toured to Australia in 2008), a rock/pop band, as well as orchestras, wind bands and big bands at school and Calderdale Youth.

Which artists most influence the way you approach the TGB and how?

TGB is unique in the way I approach it, because much of my influence comes from the members of the band.  I listen to all sorts of stuff though, from Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band, Jools Hollands R&B Orchestra, to classic FM.  There’s a whole lot of stuff going in.  Also, having supported the Hot 8 Brass Band, they’re now on nearly constantly in my car.  I was totally inspired by those guys.

What’s your favourite memory of being in the band so far, musical or otherwise?

Seeing ourselves in the iTunes blues chart was pretty awesome.  Watching the EP and the Album climb over a couple of days was dead exciting.

Out of the gigs you’ve done with the band, which was your favourite and why?

Cheltenham Jazz Festival, both times, were great – but 2014 was something else.  The atmosphere, the audience, everything about it was awesome.  However, as a brass player, supporting Hot 8 is definitely up there as one of the best gigs.

Favourite TGB song to play and why?

Not sure I have a favourite song to play, they all offer different challenges for me and I like them all.  I do quite like the horn break down in Listen to Yourself though.  That’s really cool.

Favourite part of the process? (Writing, rehearsing, gigging, recording, etc.) and why?

Time in the studio is my favourite part.  I love being in the studio.  I like the fact that you go in with nothing but ideas and from that you create a song, build it up until you have something solid at the end.  It’s really satisfying, especially with this group of musicians where everything has to be absolutely spot on.