The Flumpet is a hybrid brass instrument that shares the construction and timbral qualities of a trumpet and flugelhorn. The Flumpet was invented for Art Farmer by David Monette and is currently in production by Monette. The Flumpet is in the key of B♭.

Design

The Flumpet was designed in 1989

The Flumpet has been described as "capable of both warmth and sharp attack", taking advantage of the softer sound produced by the flugelhorn, advantageous in smaller and more intimate venues, whilst still being capable of producing the more familiar harder tones of a trumpet. The tone has been described as having "characteristics of a flugelhorn, but not nearly as brittle. It has the response of a cornet, but again the sound quality is broader and more resonant."

  • Vince Jones

Recordings and performances

Made popular by Art Farmer, the Flumpet can be heard on several of his recordings from the 1990s, including Soul Eyes, The Company I Keep, The Meaning of Art, and Silk Road. Farmer also used the instrument for 1994 live performances of Haydn's trumpet concerto with the Austrian-Hungarian Haydn Philharmonic Orchestra.

Film composer and musician Mark Isham played Flumpet on the soundtrack for the 1997 film Afterglow.

Flea played Flumpet on the cover of "Wichita Lineman" included in his 2026 album Honora.

References

  • Monette site
  • Example of flumpet playing