I think listening is important when it comes to learning tunes/styles. I buy a lot of records/CDs and try to get into the music that way. If you like soulsax King Curtis and Jr Walker are fine examples. But I think there are others; Groover Washington, David Newman ..... among others. And there is a lot of capable saxplayers who needs to be bought. All the stars are so incredably good so I often lay down my sax after hearing them. Sometimes I get more inspired by listening to a player that treats and uses a sax more in the way that is in reach for me.
I like Ben "King" Perkoff (Berlin). He is playing some of the old soulsongs: "When a man loves a woman, Soul Serenade, When Something is Wrong with My Baby, Hold on I'm Coming, A Change is gonna come" .... . Perkoff has a big tone in his saxes and he is also playing on sopranino (A Change is ...). He is playing on Selmer MkVI saxes and he is blowin' in a RPC tenor mpc. A couples of players I like use RPC. Pete Thomas, Sax Gordon, King Perkoff, Dough James and I also noticed that some guys here on forum is using RPC mpc. Maybe the secret for success??
Talking about soul: Is "A Change is Gonna Come" (Sam Cook) a R&B ballad or a soulsong? Soul is maybe more an expression of a way to play? To play soulsax good, longtone exercises are a must. BTW, it's always a must!
Sorry, I'm off the topic.
Thomas
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