It has been over a month since I last wrote anything here. I still have not touched my saxophone. For some reason, I have lost my desire to play. Music still interests me. Not enough to do anything about it, though. It could be the constant pain. I'm always tired from working. Oh yea, I'm … Continue reading No Direction
So it has been a while since I've practiced the saxophone with any consistency, or at all. My embouchure is so weak it makes me feel like my sax is leaking. I'm sure that if I took it to a repair shop, they would find nothing wrong with it. I want to resume practicing regularly. … Continue reading My Weakness Is Overwhelming
I don't practice like I should. It is the reason I sound the way I do. I came across this video in my photo library. At the time, I had been practicing sort of regularly. As I watched the video, I realized that I was on the verge of something. I had nearly learned this … Continue reading I Should Have Kept Practicing
So, I found out about a community concert band in the Charleston area; The Charleston Concert Band. There are about 80 members and all volunteers of various levels and walks of life. I contacted them, and I got an email inviting me to come to rehearsals beginning on April 27. I am excited yet frightened. … Continue reading A Chance To Play w/People Again
With my new Yamaha tenor sax. I have been playing the Vandoren V16 metal mouthpiece for a couple of years now. When I got it, I was playing on my Allora Paris Series Tenor. The mouthpiece sounded good on the Allora. However, I think it sounds much smoother on the Yamaha, and it was much … Continue reading My Vandoren V16 Metal
During the first couple of months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found the energy to play my sax a few days. Also, about a year ago I had bought a new Yamaha tenor. So, I thought I'd record myself playing a song I thought I knew. Here is, "In A Sentimental Mood," by Duke Ellington. … Continue reading In A Sentimental Mood
I probably should have posted this earlier in some readers could have made it out to see us play. The Hot Pepper Band, whom I've been playing with, played tonight a the 4th of July Street Dance & Fireworks celebration. We had some issues. The sound company was running late getting things ready. We didn't … Continue reading 4th of July Street Dance & Fireworks
I had another gig on May 2 with the Hot Peppers, in North Charleston. We played at the North Charleston Senior Center. It was some sort of middle of the day dance or art appreciation or something. It was a short performance. We only played from 3-4 PM. The audience seemed to have a good … Continue reading More Gigs
Recently, I bought a mouthpiece from a company out of Texas, Drake Mouthpieces. I bought the NY Jazz Tenor model. I had heard such great sounds from reviews on YouTube. However, after a couple of mouths with it, I don't think I like it; at least not what I'm getting out of it. It sounds … Continue reading Don’t Like The Drake
I don't enjoy music the way I used to. A little jazz improvisation practice at home, but other than that I find it all quite boring. I don't know what has happened. I don't want to blame it on years of playing with the Navy. I don't think that's it. I have just lost interest. … Continue reading I’m Over All Of It
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