Sax Symbol?

bigride

bigride

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A while back, I was scrounging funds...meaning that I was selling a bunch of baseball cards. I was putting together a stash to buy a "new" saxophone...and they ain't cheap. I have a beater horn, but she was temperamental. One minute she'd sing all lovey-dovey and next minute she'd shank me like we were in prison and she wanted my dessert. I paroled her from the closet though, and she sounded better than I could play if I gave her enough attention. Music is just kind of an immersive experience for me, but I'd been sitting poolside too long. It was time to dive in again.

I also enjoy writing, but what tumbles forth is not all sunshine and lollipops. I don't even know if it makes sense, but I enjoy the creativity. It's just that I feel as if I have constrained that process too often because of...I don't know...
1. Perceived expectations?
B. Laziness?
III. Fear?
E. All of the above.

During this process, I read a quote from a "musician"...sort of...a drummer...whatever. I kid. I kid. That's a joking jab at my percussive friends. Anyhow, it's from Elvin Jones, who often played with some no-name sax player by the name of Coltrane. Mr. Jones said of music--an immersive creative expression--"It's only honesty makes it beautiful."

So create something honest; create something beautiful.

Well, I secured a new alto sax and once again attained sax-symbol status. Bad jokes aside, it was time for me to take a deep breath and dive in. I plan to keep working my way up to high dive. Cannonball, baby...Cannonball Adderly that is.
 
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for my son, the mouthpiece made the biggest difference in the sound with his saxophone.. we went to a "tuner's" place in Iowa and the guy just started handing him ones to try, all of them sounded similar.. then all of a sudden the room went silent when he tried the next one.. it sounded amazing.. so that is the one he got.. he ended up in honor bands in the state his senior year...
 
Curious as to your old and new sax, brand and models?
Thx
Will post a few simple, but important, easy exercises.
Great for any instrument.
It's hard to imagine Adderley could play like that, with a simple two screw ligature and not a Selmer Mark VI 😜
Adderley was playing Sax in a Western movie. Can't remember the title.

Here's a nice tune, and an easy harp tune. Will work on any harp, but sound higher or lower in pitch.
Gave all the grandkids and their cousins, harps in the key of SEA. 🏴‍☠️

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I began in 5th grade on a rental Bundy then my parents bought a new Conn. The new Conn was not the same quality as the old Conns. My private teacher hooked me up with a Bundy 2 at the music store he worked at. I was able to play over 20 different horns to pick the one that I thought worked for me the best. In high school, I got an early graduation gift--a Selmer SA 80 (first gen from Paris). Again, I was able to try 3 horns to pick the one that worked best for me. I loved playing that horn, but I had to sell it for financial reasons after college.

Later down the road, I picked up a Buescher intermediate model that needed pads. It is the one that was the picky player. After selling enough cards, I found a Yamaha 62 in beautiful condition, nearly mint for a very good price. I had many conversations with the seller. He was kind of picky about the buyer. I really enjoy playing this horn. It is great therapy for me as I recover from my brain bleed. I also picked up a Buescher from 1951 that needs a complete overhaul. Now, I am trying to scratch enough dough together for that deal. Always something.
 
I've long been a fan of the great sax jazz players with Charlie Parker at the top of the class. When I saw this post I immediately thought of Candy Duffer.
My uncle Gary played sax, he was only four years older and more of a big brother than an uncle. I emulated everything Gary did. I took up the sax in the seventh grade in band at school. My dad rented a beautiful Conn from the local music store, he griped at the high cost of rental but went white at the cost of purchase. I gave it a good shot and played again in eighth grade. Dad was a salesman and someone gave him a great deal on an old battered sax I can't even remember the maker. I was crest fallen, the pads were dry, it squeaked and squawked even when I tried everything I could muster. My band teach wrote a note to my dad telling him that it needed new pads, the school would loan me one until they were fixed. Dad was pissed but spent the $50 because I was giving it a good try. I played football my sophomore year and discovered the mystery of girls and lost interest in playing the saxophone, got a good school job, bought a car and forgot all about playing music. Later in years I regret not staying with it, as with most thing we look at in hindsight.
 
I like saxes. A beautiful instrument.

Gene Ammons is a favorite.

My youngest son played an alto sax in middle school until he became a serious athlete. Still have his Yamaha in a closet. I like to think that, like bigride, he'll go back to it some day.

A marvelous thing, the ability to play an instrument.
 
You have good taste in drummers. I saw Elvin, live at the Light House in 1971. I think it was Archie Shepp in the lead but I was too fascinated by Mr. Jones to remember. I grew up listening to Coltrane (Meditations, etc.) and developed a weird sense of time signature because of it. Then came Billy Cobham. Look out! Made it hard to go back to the blues rock thing. Saw Roland Kirk at Gilly's in Dayton, OH, which was enough to blow any sax player's mind.
Trap set similar to what Elvin was using.IMG_0543 (2).JPG
 
Kinman said:
I've long been a fan of the great sax jazz players with Charlie Parker at the top of the class. When I saw this post I immediately thought of Candy Duffer.
My uncle Gary played sax, he was only four years older and more of a big brother than an uncle. I emulated everything Gary did. I took up the sax in the seventh grade in band at school. My dad rented a beautiful Conn from the local music store, he griped at the high cost of rental but went white at the cost of purchase. I gave it a good shot and played again in eighth grade. Dad was a salesman and someone gave him a great deal on an old battered sax I can't even remember the maker. I was crest fallen, the pads were dry, it squeaked and squawked even when I tried everything I could muster. My band teach wrote a note to my dad telling him that it needed new pads, the school would loan me one until they were fixed. Dad was pissed but spent the $50 because I was giving it a good try. I played football my sophomore year and discovered the mystery of girls and lost interest in playing the saxophone, got a good school job, bought a car and forgot all about playing music. Later in years I regret not staying with it, as with most thing we look at in hindsight.
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Girls and GTOs will do that to a guy.
 
I'm a classical musician, but like a very eclectic variety of music and I consider saxophone to be one of the most EXPRESSIVE instruments ever and the variety of sounds that can be made with one are absolutely amazing. From soulful to that amazing sounding racket Philip Glass put in 'Hydrogen Jukebox'.
 
Speaking of drummers, after Dizzy's big band played a couple of sets, back in the mid seventies, I was in the band room, as Mickey Roker, was taking off his Tux. He was wearing a sweatsuit, under the Tux.

Played, Black Magic Goalie, a Santana tune, 😜 whenever the Oilers had the puck. Has worked twice. 🎶🏴‍☠️🎶

The scale on this horn, is like having a Smith, that only shoots an X.

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Grayfox said:
I always wanted to make music. But one thing kept stopping me.
A complete lack of talent. :rolleyes:
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Ya never will really know, if you don't jump in.
There are musicians, and some, that know how to teach.

Had a high school junior, learn to play bass guitar.
Studied until he was off to college.
His Mom was a friend the Mrs, and thought learning to play an instrument, would bring him out of his shell.
First lesson, I had to place his fingers, on the strings, as he was a bit stiff.
Told him to do exactly as told, every day for 1-2 hours.
Came back, after six months at college, to say thanks and return some albums.
He was playing and making money, three nights a week, and lotsa college parties, as well.
He had reading skills and could play off the chord symbols.
His most important question, was, how do you manage to date, all the women, who gave him their phone numbers?
He became a Doctor, so it became Nurses. 🎶🏴‍☠️🎶
 
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