Introduction Greetings From Tallahassee

[rsclosson]

Hi,
I am a long-time saxophone player with over 60 years of experience. I am thankful to my creator and my health and diet conscious wife for the health I have that I can still play. I love playing and gig from time to time but certainly not as a full-time player. I hope to learn a lot here and hope I can contribute something.

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the café, have fun here 😃

Jx

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi,
I am a long-time saxophone player with over 60 years of experience. I am thankful to my creator and my health and diet conscious wife for the health I have that I can still play. I love playing and gig from time to time but certainly not as a full-time player. I hope to learn a lot here and hope I can contribute something.

Very big welcome to our small but perfectly formed forum, the Café

 

[Ghr9204]

Welcome to the Café, @rsclosson . Looking forward to your posts!

 

[peedeeblues]

Welcome to the cafe!

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Welcome aboard from North of Key Largo.
Just read your post on mouthpieces.
What does your 60 years of playing consist of?
Thx
Ain't Altos the best. 👍👍

 

[rsclosson]

After over 60 years of playing, I’m have to think about what I have become. It’s not easy to analyze myself.

I’m not a bebop player for sure. I am also not a speed player. My alto hero is Paul Desmond. I base my improv more on melody enhancement but I am also aware of the chord changes and am not afraid of going outside the chords a little .

I also play jazz guitar and have a fairly advanced knowledge of chord structure, progressions and chord melodies.

I don’t know if this answers your question, but I just love to play.

 

[saxyjt]

You are very welcome here, but it looks like you're been a member of the forum since 2009! What took you so long?

 

[rsclosson]

I have no good answer for that. Just got sidetracked with life.

 

[ESJohn]

Welcome from Ohio!
As Pete once said, we are the nicer, friendlier set of curmudgeons!
I'm looking forward to hearing of your experiences!

 

[saxyjt]

I have no good answer for that. Just got sidetracked with life.

Side tracks are the only one I know. The only place I'll go straight to is probably hell. In the meantime as a sailor, I'll keep tacking or jibing my way through the waves catching the wind as it comes...

 

[Ghr9204]

After over 60 years of playing, I’m have to think about what I have become. It’s not easy to analyze myself.

Some seem to always be in a state of introspection. I don't perceive you as such a person.

For those not of faint heart, a tribute to the late Bob Newhart for his comedy sketches, a favourite video of mine is:

I also play jazz guitar and have a fairly advanced knowledge of chord structure, progressions and chord melodies.

Often I will pull out the fake book or the C lead sheet off this or another forum, and relax, do karaoke on the fly and improv on one of my arranger keyboards, in this case my Korg PA600.

Once I figure out my new videocorder, may post my play of "There Will Never Be Another You" at a moderate tempo "Disco Cha Cha" beat. (I love the built in style sets of the Korg, because they are more combo or small band like.)

I don’t know if this answers your question, but I just love to play.

To me, a love to play is all that matters. 😀

 

[rsclosson]

Actually, don’t think about it too much. When improvising, I don’t find myself trying to think too much about chords and scales. I just play what sounds good to me. I guess I have internalized a lot of stuff.

I got a great compliment from a venue owner recently. He said that I don’t sound like the university students who play there. To him they all sound alike, sort of all using the same formulae.

He has me back regularly.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I got a great compliment from a venue owner recently. He said that I don’t sound like the university students who play there.

That’s an amazing venue owner. To be actually interested in the music for a start but to actually get how so much of what you hear today is formulaic rather than melodic. I prefer to hear music where the emphasis is more melodic and creatively rhythmic based rather than churning out clever patterns.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Welcome to the café!