The Music Mind Podcast featuring Top UK Session Trumpeter Johnny Thirkell - Episode 39

This episode of The Music Mind Podcast features Top UK Session Trumpet Player Johnny Thirkell. Johnny holds the distinction of having played on 38 Number Hit recordings in the UK. In addition, for more than a decade, his horn playing was featured on at least one album sitting in the UK Top 50 charts every week. Thirkell is a successful businessman outside of his life as a tradesman trumpeter. He discusses the importance for him of finding passive income streams when facing the reality of life of battling the aging brass musician syndrome. Music education forms a big part of his life. Johnny runs regular music camps for musicians where students interact with acclaimed professionals in small group classes. Good Enough is Good Enough for Johnny Thirkell. You don't have to be the best musician in the world to play with some of the best and enjoy a life in music. Johnny has written a book called BLOWN IT which is available directly from his website. It charts the life of a highly successful session musician and is a fun read. For the music collaboration on this episode, Johnny chose a great pop ballad written by Michel Legrand titled 'How Do You Keep The Music Playing?'. This was a vocal hit for Patti Austin and James Ingram. It is performed here as an instrumental collaboration featuring Johnny Thirkell on trumpet with Brian Hayes on tenor saxophone. You can reach out and connect with Johnny at For further information on The Music Mind Podcast or to connect with Brian Hayes go to To listen to AUDIO ONLY versions of The Music Mind Podcast series refer To view the full suite of The Music Mind video podcasts refer

You can listen to The Music Mind Podcast featuring Top UK Session Trumpeter Johnny Thirkell - Episode 39 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The Music Mind Podcast featuring Top UK Session Trumpeter Johnny Thirkell - Episode 39 is an episode from The Music Mind Podcast by Brian Hayes.

This episode is 90:30 long.

This episode was published on Mar 19, 2026.

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