I can't understand how after Bleek's wounds healed, he was unable to play the trumpet like he used to. After all of those years of practicing, you don't just forget how to play. Did he suffer some injury that prevented him from playing???
shareI'm not a trumpet player, but from what I understand you really need lip control in order to play it properly. Once you seriously injure your lips, it's hard to recover. In real life, legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard had lip problems and he was never able to regain his form.
The mind is like a parachute; it works best when it is open." - Rickson Gracie
Trumpet playing is not just "blowing the horn", but also about the tension in your mouth and lips. If you have an injury preventing you from properly pursing your lips tightly, you will not be able to hit many notes.
"Top model diva, but my name is not Eva!"
I've never been able to understand why he tried to play in public when his technique and embouchure were not together. I assume it was for dramatic license, but in reality I doubt a musician as fastidious as Bleek was shown to be would risk public pity and ridicule like that.
share"I've never been able to understand why he tried to play in public when his technique and embouchure were not together."
I think that his craving for his former musical abilities could easily make him a bit delusional. He wanted it so badly that he experienced some degree of denial. My opinion.
And in response to the original question, yeah I think it would be about embouchure. It's very dependent on all the nerves and muscles working perfectly. So even if his injuries healed well, and he could speak well, the embouchure is too fragile to recover from really serious injuries.
"By God, I heard the crow call my name!" exclaimed Caw.
Exactly, the fight ruined his embouchure. Remember how precious he was about his lips when Clarke bit him? And you could see the scarring on his upper lip a year after the fight.
Apparently Charles Mingus punched trombonist Jimmy Knepper in the mouth at a rehearsal (over "artistic differences"). After that, Knepper couldn't reach higher notes anymore.
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My issue is that he never would have tried to play in public after a year without at least practicing, particularly considering how meticulous he was with his practicing when he was healthy and at the top of his game. As such, he should have known that he wasn't physically fit to play long before he went to that club. I believe that's what they call a plot hole.
shareJust notice how he starts out pretty good but then gets gradually worse. Do you not consider that he practiced, at least for a while before going on stage? Of course he did.
He was unable to play it because playing the trumpet requires concentration, a clear mind. He was mentally overwhelmed. Its not about lip injury, or broken jaw. Of course these would have affected him in the long run, but not like this.
Thats why I respect trumpet players so much.
Hey, Soldier. Do you know who's in command here?
Hell hits it on the head.
A consummate musician such as Bleek would be, would have practiced before going out to perform. Knowing that he was able to play the instrument as well as he ever could, but not realizing that he’s spiritually shattered.
Once before an audience, what might be considered the final piece of the puzzle known as Bleek Gilliam, only then would it become apparent that he’s just not in the same emotional place that had informed his playing prior to the beating and his love-life (as it were), and popular appeal having been undone.
Something’s lost, and he didn’t find it in the music.
"Your thinking is untidy, like most so-called thinking today." (Murder, My Sweet)
I think i'd go crazy to the point of suicide if I wasn't able to play anymore.
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