In college, Jim Manley's trumpet professor told him, "You are the worst trumpet player, ever."

Despite coming from a non-musical family, Jim wasn't deterred. He went on to travel the world as a solo artist, record critically acclaimed solo albums, and become an inspiration to trumpet players around the world.

In 1967, Jim fell in love with the trumpet. Shortly after, when he was in high school, that love expanded to include a fascination with great jazz trumpet players like Cat Anderson and Freddie Hubbard.

When he was younger, all Jim wanted to do was play as high as possible, and he recorded several albums with that goal in mind. As a result, he has spent many years figuring out how to make all those high notes as easy to play as possible.

Since 1982, he's "played almost every place in town" in his hometown of St. Louis. Because of the variety of venues, Jim frequently gets the chance to show his versatility – he’ll often be playing lead one night and in a trio the next. In the past few years he has branched out as a band leader, composer, and clinician, and has been featured as a guest soloist with many school bands across the country. He's also been the headliner at many clubs and festivals, including Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis, and the 2006 Trumpet Party in Amsterdam.

As a lifelong admirer of Maynard Ferguson's trumpet playing, Jim was honored for his group, Horns in the House, to be Maynard's opening act in 1996. In 2003 Maynard sat in with another of Jim's groups, The Wild Cool & Swingin' Orchestra, at the famous Chase Park Plaza Hotel.

Jim's unique approach to brass playing has gained world-wide attention. His popularity and influence on the trumpet community has grown not only due to his musical skills, but also his evident approachability and willingness to talk music with just about anybody.

Jim is a clinician for Stomvi USA and plays the VR2 Trumpet and Flex mouthpieces.

The first time I met Jim he was kind enough to give me a trumpet lesson. He listened to me for about a minute and then said "Sounds good. Now let me show you all that you're doing wrong." Let me tell you it was a lot!

I have always been fascinated with how Jim is able to get such a big sound throughout all the registers while using tiny quantities of air.

The first time I had a chance to make a mouthpiece with him was when he changed from his V~Raptor to his VRII trumpet. He came out with his existing mouthpiece and some other mouthpieces (including an MF Giardinelli) and told me what he liked about them and what he was looking for in a new mouthpiece.

I analyzed the mouthpieces he had and ended up modifying both the cup and the backbore. The new mouthpiece sounded much better and JIm said it was easier to play as well. He played this mouthpiece for a few years and sounded great on it.

When I had finished testing on the VR Flex mouthpiece concept in early 2009, I decided to redesign the last mouthpiece I had made for Jim. When I played the redesigned piece, it was quite an improvement: It had a bigger sound with more overtones and was easier to play. This was accomplished by modifying the cup to our VR style, using our Flex alloy, and designing a new backbore, the T2.

I remember calling Jim and saying I had a new mouthpiece for him to try. His response was that I could send it to him but he was sure it couldn't be any better than what he had. In fact he said he'd rather change girlfriends, than mouthpieces.

Jim called me immediately after receiving the new mouthpiece and has been playing it ever since.

K.O. Skinsnes

I had no idea how analytical K.O. was the first time I met him. It was when we started working together that I discovered it was his passion as a player and his scientific background that led him to develop trumpets and mouthpieces that play easier and sound better than any other.

His father was a doctor and so he was around science and problem solving his whole life. His approach to the mouthpiece and trumpet is as a player who wants to make other players' lives easier.

As a result he listens to what you have to say but never holds back his opinion, which are based on his studies of the trumpet and mouthpiece. He always listens with an open mind and never discounts what I have to say.

The first custom piece he made for me was amazing. I told my best friend Darryl Ecsedy that I finally had the "holy grail" of mouthpieces and was never going to change.

When K.O. sent me the new JM VR, I was skeptical, I thought nothing could beat the "holy grail" but gave it a blow anyway.

After the first few notes I put my other mouthpiece in the drawer and haven't played it since.

This Flex Mouthpiece is amazing! I'm getting much more sound for much less work.
Jim Manley