We are particularly partial to bands featuring the trumpet, our assigned instrument in 5th-grade band. We remember thinking to our small selves, "it's only got three buttons... how hard could it be?"

These people make it look easy. Here are a couple of our favorite trumpeters in the lineup (in chronological order):

Local trumpet superstar Frank London leads his SF Klezmer Brass Allstars at Café du Nord this Friday, September 5th.

Cool Sarah Wilson offers a Brass Tonic -- "power brass jazz folk song tonic for the masses" -- at the deYoung Museum at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 7th (free!).

Hard-working Darren Johnston (who also appears with Sarah Wilson's Brass Tonic) fronts the Nice Guy Trio at the Red Poppy Art House on Friday, September 9th.

Brilliant Ara Anderson, who can be heard on a couple of Tom Waits records, plays with Iron + the Albatross at the Freight and Salvage on September 10th.