Trumpet Auction To Benefit Satchmo Music Fest

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trumpet-maker Jason Harrelson says he's donating one of the best trumpets he's ever made to benefit a festival honoring the artist who sparked his passion for the instrument — Louis Armstrong.

Harrelson's specially made brass "Satchmo" trumpet has a fleur-de-lis mouthpiece and transcription of the musical score for Armstrong's trumpet solo in the song "A Kiss to Build a Dream On." It also has a tuning slide mounted with a small replica of an iconic New Orleans water meter cover.

The trumpet is set to hit the auction block Saturday with proceeds benefiting Satchmo Summerfest, the free three-day festival in the French Quarter held each year in early August. Harrelson, a Louisiana native who now lives in New Brighton, Minn., expects the instrument to fetch between $10,000 and $15,000.