Here’s another great solo transcription from a Youtube video that I started working on a few days ago. My tenor was getting overhauled so I thought I would take a stab at an alto solo while it was in the shop. This is from the great sax player, Danny Walsh and is a solo he played with the Ball State […]
The #1 Thing You Need to Do To Become a Great Improviser
I’m seeing a trend in adult students that I have taught over the last 10 years and wanted to write about it. The #1 thing that most students young and old want to improve is their ability to improvise well. Many times, I ask the students what their practice routine is like and I get answers […]
Mark Russo-Saxophone Overtones, Altissimo and Growling
This is a great video of Mark Russo demonstrating different concepts on a Cannonball alto and tenor saxophone. Mark was one of the first professional saxophone players I ever heard in concert. I was in high school and went to the Syracuse Jazz Festival and a group called the Yellowjackets started playing. I had […]
Michael Brecker Solo Transcription-Recorda Me
For this week’s new transcription, I am posting the first 5 choruses of a transcription that Igor Tomanoski sent me this week. This is Michael Brecker soloing over Recorda Me with Steps Ahead in the 80’s. This is from a Youtube video that I first heard a few years ago. This is just classic “tearing it up” Brecker!! […]
Bob Mintzer Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription-New Rochelle
Here’s another great solo transcription from John Blevins. John has graciously sent me a number of his transcriptions and given me permission to share them with the sax world on my site here. This is another great sax solo by Bob Mintzer. The tune is New Rochelle from the album “Latin from Manhattan” and the […]
Bob Mintzer Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription-My Romance
Here’s another great solo transcription from John Blevins. John has graciously sent me a number of his transcriptions and given me permission to share them with the sax world on my site here. This is another great sax solo by Bob Mintzer. The tune is My Romance from the 1988 album “Spectrum”. My Romance […]
Why is Learning Jazz Patterns Foreign to Me?
I received this question in an email the other day and I thought it would be good to try to answer it in detail on the blog here so others can benefit from it: Question: Steve, I have always listened to jazz, but I tend to favor simpler, lyrical playing like Houston Person, Gene Ammons, […]
Wilton Felder’s Street Life Solo Transcription
Here’s another great solo transcription from John Blevins. John has graciously sent me a number of his transcriptions this last week and given me permission to share them with the sax world on my site here. This is a great sax solo by Wilton Felder who was the cofounder of the Crusaders. The tune is Street […]
Benjamin Allen Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
Today, I am reviewing another mouthpiece made by Benjamin Allen. I have reviewed a number of Benjamin Allen’s tenor mouthpieces which were all fabulous in my opinion. I now have in front of me a Benjamin Allen prototype of an alto mouthpiece that he has been working on. This is not the finished product but rather a “prototype” […]
Ken Okutsu High Baffle Mouthpiece Alto Saxophone Review
Today, I am reviewing my fourth hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece from Ken Okutsu in Japan. It is the High Baffle model and has a 7 tip opening which is .079. I already reviewed four Okutsu tenor mouthpieces which were all excellent so I have been very curious to review these alto mouthpieces as well. Four New Ken Okutsu Alto Saxophone […]
Ken Okutsu Traditional II Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
Today, I am reviewing my third hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece from Ken Okutsu in Japan. It is the Traditional II model and has a 6 tip opening which is .075. I already reviewed four Okutsu tenor mouthpieces which were all excellent so I have been very curious to review these alto mouthpieces also. Four New Ken Okutsu Alto Saxophone […]
Ken Okutsu Focus Core Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
Today, I am reviewing my second hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece from Ken Okutsu in Japan. It is the Focus Core model and has a 6 tip opening which is .075. (In the sound clip below I mistakenly say it is a Focus Tone but that was a mistake on my part…….sorry Ted Klum…….) I already reviewed […]
Ken Okutsu Traditional Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
Today, I am reviewing my first hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece from Ken Okutsu in Japan. It is the Traditional model and has a 6 tip opening which is .075. I already reviewed four Okutsu tenor mouthpieces which were all excellent so I have been very curious to review these alto mouthpieces also. Four New Ken Okutsu Traditional Alto Sax […]
Bob Mintzer Solo Transcription – You and the Night and the Music
Here’s a solo transcription I started working on this week. This is another solo from one of my favorite tenor sax players, Bob Mintzer. I love Bob’s playing because it is so melodic and thematic. He always plays ideas that you can grasp on to and that are catchy, yet he mixes in some pretty hip and […]
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