Arturo Sandoval and Gabriel Angelo
by Gregg Field
Recently my wife, Monica Mancini, and I traveled from Los Angeles to San Francisco to attend Arturo Sandoval’s concert at the Herbst Theatre. Arturo is a personal friend and I work with him regularly as his producer. A couple hours before the concert, I found myself walking through Union Square, when I noticed a young boy standing on the street corner in front of Macy’s, playing his coronet in the cold darkness for passersby who might toss their pocket change into his open case on the ground.
I was a few steps past him, when I heard the sound of “Moon River” coming from his horn. My father-in-law, Henry Mancini, wrote “Moon River” nearly 50 years ago and I was really surprised to hear this young boy playing it! I turned and headed back, and when he finished playing, I asked him his name and how old he is. He politely said his name is Gabriel Angelo and that he is 11 years old. I told him that my wife’s father wrote “Moon River.” He got very excited and said: “Wait! Would you meet my mom!?”
She was standing a few feet away, reading a book and keeping a watchful eye on Gabriel. She approached and introduced herself. The three of us spoke for a few minutes and I thanked Gabriel for playing so beautifully and said goodbye before heading back to my hotel.
I was a few blocks away when I remembered that probably the greatest trumpet player in the world was performing a concert in two hours, just a few minutes away from where we were standing. I turned and headed back toward Union Square. Gabriel was still playing and I asked his mom if they would like to attend Arturo Sandoval’s concert that evening. There is an odd assortment of folks in Union Square and I’m sure Gabriel’s mom wondered if I was for real or not. In any case, I assured her I was serious and explained that, if they could be in the lobby of the Herbst Theatre at 7:45 p.m., I would arrange two tickets for Arturo’s concert. What followed would change all of our lives!
Just before 7:45 I walked out to the lobby of the theatre and there were Gabriel and his mom waiting. Gabriel had his coronet case with him and they had obviously come directly from Union Square. They settled into their seats and I asked them to meet me in the lobby at intermission so I could bring them backstage to meet Arturo.
The lights came down and the concert began. Arturo quickly demonstrated why he is the greatest trumpet player on the planet! It was a high-energy first half and I kept wondering what must be going through Gabriel’s mind, listening to Arturo play higher, lower, and faster than any human should be able to!
Before the concert, I had told Arturo about the young boy I had just met on the street playing “Moon River.” I told Arturo I had invited Gabriel to the concert and would bring him backstage on the break. The first set ended and Gabriel couldn’t sit still! We headed backstage to meet Arturo during the intermission and Arturo, who is larger than life, could not have been more gracious. Arturo said to Gabriel, “I hear you're quite a trumpet player and that you play ‘Moon River’!” Gabriel is a polite young boy, filled with enthusiasm, and Arturo picked right up on it. Arturo then said, “Why don’t you come on stage with me on the second half and play ‘Moon River’?” Gabriel lit up and squealed, “Sure!”
The second set began and Arturo and his band were on fire! Gabriel stood in the hallway adjacent to the stage, intensely practicing for his debut. After I played a number with Arturo, he asked me to come down front and tell the audience the story of meeting Gabriel in Union Square a few hours before. I told them that Gabriel was back stage and that he was going to come out and play. The audience went crazy! Gabriel walked on stage, barely tall enough to be seen among the maze of instruments and amps.
Arturo spoke to Gabriel and the audience for a minute or so, and then asked, “OK, are you ready?” Gabriel picked up his cornet, took a deep breath, stepped to the mike and began to play. Gabriel was understandably very nervous and the first few notes had trouble coming out, but he was not deterred. He tried to play and again, but only a few notes would sound.
Arturo noticed that Gabriel was holding the cornet in a very unusual way, with his left hand around the tubing and asked why Gabriel was holding the trumpet like that. Gabriel explained that his cornet was broken and he had to hold it that way so that it didn't fall apart. Arturo said, “Why don't you play my horn?” The audience and Gabriel collectively gasped.
I suppose Gabriel is average size for an 11-year-old, but, in his hands, Arturo’s horn looked almost as big as he did. The audience was rooting for Gabriel as he put Arturo’s horn to his lips. This time it was better, but Gabriel knew it still wasn’t right. He handed the horn back to Arturo and shyly asked, “Can I try my cornet?” Gabriel picked up his horn again, and this time, he really began to play. By the eighth measure, Arturo’s band had joined in to accompany and the audience hung on every note, wanting Gabriel to hit a home run. He did! And by the time Gabriel had finished, Arturo beamed and the audience rose to its feet and cheered!
When the applause finally stopped, Arturo said to Gabriel, “No musician should ever have to play a horn like that! When we’re finished tonight, wait for me backstage and give me your address. I will send you one of my trumpets!” There was not a dry eye in the theater.
With fortune shining on Gabriel as it did, I can only imagine what the future has in store for this remarkable young boy. I know it will be great! There was also the fortune that shone on all of us who were there!
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