Fishing for comments dammit! All of Me is one of my favorite songs. I first heard it in high school. It's a relatively easy song to play and was one of the first songs I ever learned to improvise on. I have had this horn for a little over a year now and I find … Continue reading All Of Me
Tag: jazz
Charlie Parker
Now's The Time - Charlie Parker Charles "Yardbird" Parker was an amazing saxophonist who gained wide recognition for his brilliant solos and innovative improvisations. He was, without a doubt, one of the most influential and talented musicians in jazz history. When I was first introduced to jazz in high school I was floored when I … Continue reading Charlie Parker
Ravi Coltrane
It seems like there are billions of saxophone players in the world. Some are like me, just a novice. And then there are those saxophone players that are just brilliant. I just ran across another extraordinary saxophone player. You may know his father, John. I'm sorry I am late in this discovery. Most of you … Continue reading Ravi Coltrane
Why I Post Recordings of Myself
Even if I SUCK! It is because I am using this site as a kind of accountability tool. It helps me to keep practicing, especially when I post something where I really sound like an amateur (which may be all of them). So it is not to say to you the reader, Hey listen to … Continue reading Why I Post Recordings of Myself
All The Things You Are
I am still enjoying myself for the most part. I say that because I am still having some back pain which sometimes makes it difficult to handle the weight of the saxophone. Anyway, this is another tune I'm relearning. It is called All The Things You Are, written by Jerome Kern. It originally appeared in … Continue reading All The Things You Are
Dexter Gordon
I was still in high school when I first heard of Dexter Gordon. After school, our high school band director was teaching improvisation to those of us who were interested. Most times we were using Jamey Aebersold recordings to practice. Other times we were listening to jazz records. One of those records was by Dexter … Continue reading Dexter Gordon
So I Got This New Sax
You may have seen my unboxing video. I got a new Alto Saxophone. It is an Allora Paris Series, just like the Tenor Sax I bought last summer. I am pleased to say that both of these saxophones have proven to be good solid instruments capable of being used by any professional. It may not … Continue reading So I Got This New Sax
Learning Stella
Still getting more familiar with Stella By Starlight. I have the chord progression memorized but, as you can hear in this recording, I am still unsure, or at least I feel unsure about what I'm doing. You will hear some places where I stumble. And if you are jazz player you will hear some place … Continue reading Learning Stella
One of My Favorite Players
Michael Brecker I started playing the alto sax in the 6th grade. I seemed to be naturally good at it or at least drawn to it. The first day I got it I played it for hours not knowing anything about the saxophone. In the seventh grade, I was introduced to the baritone sax and … Continue reading One of My Favorite Players
A Song For Joyce
Before joining the Navy I wanted to be a jazz composer. Somehow the Navy changed that direction. Anyway, this is a song I wrote, while still in high school actually, was for a girl. I hadn't even met her yet. She was going to the college I was headed to. Her name was Joyce. We … Continue reading A Song For Joyce