In Kansas City’s historic Jazz District, Mike Corrigan has built a national reputation for crafting professional-quality instruments. Fondly known as the “Horn Doctor” to many local musicians, Corrigan’s enterprise B.A.C. Musical Instruments (short for Best American Craftsmen) manufactures custom trombones, trumpets and more.
Among his loyal clientele? Trombone Shorty, members of Jazz at Lincoln Center and touring artists that back up pop stars like Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and John Legend.
According to Corrigan, his craft is becoming a rather rare and steadily shrinking trade. “At one point, the United States produced more instruments than any country in the world,” he says. However, many major American instrument makers were acquired by larger conglomerates in the 1970s. Margins quickly began to overtake artistry, and longevity became an afterthought…