Play with the Greats!

[frank_johnson]

When I bought my 27 year old alto on Jan. 8th, I had to promise my friend that I would not get the horn out of its case until I had read the first part of his superb book, "Harmony with Lego Bricks". This part is entitled 'What to listen for in Jazz' with the accompanying 13 cds (available as mp3 files from jazzwise, I believe).
In the meantime another friend had bought me "The Complete Saxophone Player". I spent 4 days solid going through the Harmony with Lego... section and then got out my alto in anger for the first time. I put "The Complete...." on the music stand, summoned up memories from 22 years ago, when I last dabbled, and,got half-way through the book in 4 half-hour sessions, cleaning up the sound as I went along. It is probably a good self-teaching book for a complete beginner with no experience of other musical instruments, but by the time I had played "Strangers In the Night" for the 10th time I was totally p..., Sorry, bored!!

Some of you sax-fiends have already given me good tips for easy alto pieces, but I need to save a few pennies first: so I decided
to try a cd, "Our Man in Paris", Dexter Gordon, tenorman extraordinaire. I listened several times and decided to give it a shot.
I got the intro and the theme to' Willow weep for me', spotted some lovely slowish riffs which I stole and ended up using the intro and riffs plus my own to complete my first saxophone blues.
I felt totally elated and decided that listening is the way forward for me, plus of course , reading the rest of the 'Lego' book, which is amazing if you want to play ( or listen to ) jazz.
Frank :laugh:

 

[Bobby G]

That's a good album, 'Our Man in Paris'. So is 'Go'.

That elated feeling can't be beat, can it? I remember, after I'd been playing for not very long, trying to play along with something - I decided to go for 'So What', off Kind of Blue', my thinking being it's slow-ish with not too many changes. After fluffing around for a few minutes, I suddenly seemed to hit on something! Wow, I was Cannonball Adderley! Just for a little while I understood how it was done, even if my playing was less Cannon and more Spud-gun.

Now I realise my limit is probably closer to SINT, so, after me.... doo-be doo-be doo, be-do-be-doo-doo etc.

Cheers, Bob

 

[frank_johnson]

Thanks for the tip Bob. I'll try 'So What'! Got any spuds I can borrow?
Frank :whistle:

 

[Simon]

Hey Frank -

Lego Bricks is an amazing book - really nothing quite like Conrad's approach to hearing jazz tunes and understanding why they sound the way they do PLUS practical playing tips for the muso.

Other alto tunes you might like to get into:
Earl Bostic 'Harlem Nocturne', Cannonball Adderley's version of 'Willow Weep for Me', 'Work Song' and 'This Here', Art Pepper 'Tin Tin Deo', Paul Desmond 'Emily', 'Take Five', Bird with Strings (eg 'Laura'), Johnny Hodges 'Passion Flower'....

this is the bit of music I like the most: listening, copying and jammin along to these guys... maybe not for long cos Im not that good, but enuff to get alot of enjoyment from the process!

Have fun!

Simon

 

[rhysonsax]

"Willow Weep for Me" is one of my favourite tracks - such a great sound and playing of real authority. It's as if Dexter is saying "this is the right way to play it, and I'm going to do it."

I liked the track so much that I got Curtis Swift at http://www.saxsolos.com/ to transcribe it. He sells his excellent transcriptions as 50c a sheet, so that one is $3.50. He's got more than 20 Dexter Gordon transcriptions, including "Guess I'll Hang my Tears out to Dry" (from Go !) that is in a similar vein.

It is probably better for your playing to work the riffs out for yourself, but the transcription helps me a lot.

Rhys

 

[frank_johnson]

Simon & Rhysonsax,
many thanks for the track list and your advice.
Simon; I'll also pass on your comments about LEGO to Conrad. I'm in constant touch by e-mail.
Thanks again,
Frank

"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing."

 

[frank_johnson]

Yehaw!! Today I played 'Come Sunday' with the Texan Tornado Booker Ervin. Out of respect, I let him take most of the solos.

Bob, I hope your back is better.
Frank
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Things to teach your kids: No sax before mirrors.

 

[Bobby G]

Booker Ervin, he's quite good isn't he? You were probably right to let him take most of the solos. I've got several Charles Mingus tunes with Booker playing. I like that raw, urgent kind of feel on the late 50's Mingus albums, although it can be reigned in a bit on tunes like the wonderfully woe-full 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat'.

The back is still not good, unable to lift a sax as yet :cry: and not walking too well :cry: but on the plus side I have been signed off work for a week 🙂 so I can listen to theJazz all day 🙂 and I'm on holiday next week too 🙂 Finally, the back is improving slowly, I can get up the stairs properly instead of one step at a time with both feet.

Attitude positive, humour good, family members wonderful, trying to use time away from the sax usefully 😉

Thanks for asking,

Cheers, Bob (lumbar spasm) Green