I love Cannonball Adderley and Sonny Rollins. But instead of writing yet another article for an audience of sax players about a sax player, I thought I’d hop on over to the side of the hippity-hop, since sometimes the best way to drive a point home is to look at the subject matter from the [read more…]
Although folks like Joe Henderson feel that the best way to learn the language of jazz is to learn a solo by ear and memorize it, there’s definitely a place for reading transcribed solos, and possibly committing them to memory off the manuscript. Some of us might be as ambitious enough to transpose transcribed solos into [read more…]
Recording artist and master class clinician, Adam Larson shares his proven system for building technique in a way that not only uncovers and removes your technical "blind spots", but also opens you up to a whole new world of jazz improv vocabulary. Even if you don't have a ton of time to practice each week, if you're ready to move out of your comfort zone in a fun and inspiring way, then click the picture below and check the program out for yourself!
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Lightning-Fast and Crystal-Clean Saxophone Technique
In the hands of New York City’s Patrick Cornelius, the saxophone is mere putty. His latest solo outing titled Maybe Steps features Cornelius soaring through a melodic collection of original tunes as well as a couple of standards accompanied by an intense, yet subtle backdrop supplied by his top-notch rhythm section. Starting off on the [read more…]
When putting these interview articles together, sometimes I get an artist whose accomplishments are so impressive and numerous that it makes putting everything into a few paragraphs, well, kind of a pain in the tush. That said, thanks a lot Grace Kelly. I’ll go ahead and list just a few of the bullet points here: [read more…]
This article serves as the show notes for this week’s podcast interview with Greg Banaszak. Greg Banaszak is a rare breed of saxophonist indeed. First off, let’s start with his status as, literally, one of the most esteemed classical saxophonists walking the planet at this time. The New York Times refers to him as “A Saxophone Tour [read more…]
This is a guest post from saxophonist and educator David Erato of DavidErato.com. You’ve taken lessons for a few years or more. You have basic knowledge of music theory and proficiency on your horn. It may be time to share your knowledge with others. But to what degree? Will teaching be your main source of [read more…]
I remember taking my younger nephew to a musical exhibit on one of our most memorable family vacations. It was called Amazing Music Studio and it gave attendees the opportunity to pick an instrument of interest and learn, over the course of a few hours, the basics of that instrument. Rather than just pressing buttons [read more…]
This is a guest post from saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, pianist, educator, and blogger, Mark Catoe. Back in April, the self-described “nonpartisan enterprise,” MinnPost, published an interview with Christian McBride. In it, he talks about the groups he currently plays with, having fun playing music, and knowing James Brown. I find the entire read fascinating (head [read more…]
Generously lauded in publications such as The Village Voice, The Boston Herald, The Boston Phoenix, and the Boston Globe, it’s obvious that Daniel Bennett is the toast of his former town (he is now based in New York City). With a list of teachers that includes Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone, it’s easy to see [read more…]
Any devoted jazz saxophone player with an internet connection knows Charles McNeal’s love letter to jazz history, CharlesMcNeal.com. As a Facebook friend of Charles myself, there are periods where he cranks out, literally, a transcription each day. As an equal opportunity transcriber, he’s taken down hundreds of solos from all ends of the jazz legend [read more…]