I am Tony Lovette Tate. For 18 years I was a saxophone player with the United States Navy. The Navy is capable of putting together, and sending out a variety of musical groups; jazz ensembles, wind ensembles, saxophone quartets, brass quintets, rock & pop groups, and even a little r&b.
I went through the basic music course at the Armed Forces School of Music in 1989-1990. I graduated a month early because a sax player was needed at the Atlanta Fleet Band Showband. They were preparing for the UNITAS cruise to South America, a six-month deployment. That was the beginning of my Navy career. I stayed 20 years.
I got out in 2007. It has been 9 years since I played on a regular basis. On tomorrow I should receive a new tenor saxophone through UPS. I ordered it over this last weekend from Woodwind Brasswind. It is an Allora Paris Series Tenor. I don’t know how it plays, but it is supposed to be a professional level sax.
When I got out of the Navy in 2007 I did not own my own saxophone. I didn’t think I wanted to play again. After 18 years of following orders and playing music that I didn’t necessarily want to play, I felt burnt out.
So now, I face the challenge of restoring my chops. I want to play with some sort of ensemble, be it volunteer professional. And if necessary I may do some solo sax work with background jazz tracks.
tonelovette.com 