I wanted to share this interesting video I found on Facebook this morning that was shared by Louis Gerrits who runs the website michaelbreckerliverecordings.com which is a website dedicated to the great tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker who passed away in 2007. *Louis was also kind enough to share the Michael Brecker photos in this article Read More…
Whoa!! Michael Brecker Performing on a Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece!!
June 5, 2020 by 35 Comments
The Secret Super Power of a Slow Learner-Derek Brown-Beatbox Sax
February 24, 2020 by 4 Comments
Derek Brown has a Youtube channel called “Beatbox Sax”. While most of us mere mortals are just trying to figure out how to play the sax the normal way (or should I say the way that is most “common”), Derek is one of those rare individuals that is breaking new ground with the saxophone. Check out the two Read More…
Video Tour of The Michael Brecker Archive at William Paterson University
June 24, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Louis Gerrits creator of the site michaelbreckerliverecordings.com posted a link to a video tour of the Living Jazz Archives at William Paterson University which includes the Michael Brecker Archive on Facebook this morning. I posted about this great archive in the past here: Michael Brecker Archive Article. The Michael Brecker part of the video tour Read More…
The Art of Jazz Improvisation-Communication
February 9, 2017 by 3 Comments
I was browsing the internet this morning when I happened upon these two amazing videos below. It struck me that as teachers and students, we are so often teaching jazz improvisation in a one dimensional realm. We talk about scales, licks, chords and patterns. We go home and practice by ourselves with our play along tracks Read More…
Improving Saxophone Altissimo Exercise with Chris Potter
January 12, 2017 by 4 Comments
I just happened upon this as I was perusing the web and drinking my morning coffee just now. Chris Potter playing Giant Steps. The hard part…… he can’t go below high C. How many of you are brave enough to take on this challenge?……….I’m inspired to practice! Awesome!
History of the Saxophone Video by Ben Flocks
August 25, 2016 by 1 Comment
I had to share this! Saxophonist Ben Flocks has made a video that takes us through 150 years of saxophone history in about 10 minutes! This was posted on Youtube in 2014 but somehow I have missed it for the last two years. This is not a boring lecture but a musical performance where he Read More…
Chris Potter Interview/Performance with Christian McBride
August 4, 2016 by 2 Comments
Another great interview and performance by the great saxophone player Chris Potter. This was recorded from Christian McBride’s SiriusXM radio show “The Low Down”. The interview is fascinating and Chris has such a humble and real honesty about him that it is like he’s in your living room talking to you. At the 7:45 mark Read More…
Michael Brecker on Three Quartets with Chick Corea
April 2, 2016 by 4 Comments
I just found this on Youtube this morning and wanted to share it. This video was made in 2003 and is a reunion concert of the original musicians from Chick Corea’s “Three Quartets” album. Chick Corea, Michael Brecker,Eddie Gomez and Steve Gadd. Three Quartets was released in 1981 and was one of the first albums Read More…
This Guy Blows My Mind…….Derek Brown
October 15, 2015 by 3 Comments
Derek Brown has a Youtube channel called “Beatbox Sax”. While most of us mere mortals are just trying to figure out how to play the sax the normal way (or should I say the way that is most “common”), Derek is one of those rare individuals that is breaking new ground with the saxophone. Check out the two Read More…
Mark Russo-Saxophone Overtones, Altissimo and Growling
September 19, 2015 by 1 Comment
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 Read More…
Chris Potter playing the alto saxophone at 15………….
January 17, 2015 by 1 Comment
Here’s an interesting video I just found the other day! This is Chris Potter playing a gig when he was 15 years old! Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone player’s in the world right now. It is so interesting to hear where he was at when he was just 15 years Read More…
Great Lenny Pickett Clinic
November 25, 2014 by 3 Comments
I just found these videos on Youtube a few minutes ago and started watching them. Lenny Pickett is a tenor sax player known to almost all saxophone players. If you have ever watched Saturday Night Live, you have heard Lenny Pickett. He’s the sax player in the middle of the TV screen playing notes so Read More…
Great Chris Potter Performance and Interview
November 13, 2014 by 6 Comments
Here’s a great interview with Chris Potter that I came across just now on Facebook. Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone players in the world. There is an unbelievable solo performance in the beginning of the video and this is a very insightful interview. Chris talks about practicing and different aspect of Read More…
Great Branford Marsalis Interview
June 3, 2014 by 3 Comments
Here’s a great Branford Marsalis interview that I just watched on SOTW (Sax on the Web). I thought this interviewer did a great job! A lot of what he said about classical music as compared to jazz really it home with me. In college, I was so stressed to play a classical piece, it had Read More…
2013 Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone Competition
April 24, 2014 by 5 Comments
I wanted to share this video that is on Youtube of the 2013 Thelonious Monk Saxophone competition. I first heard of the Thelonious Monk competition in the early 90’s. I believe the competition started out in the late 80’s as a piano competition and then started including other instruments in the early 90’s. 1991 was Read More…
Great Joshua Redman Interview
March 13, 2014 by 3 Comments
Here’s a great Joshua Redman interview that someone shared on facebook. I was blown away by the honesty and sincerity of Joshua Redman. You don’t get any sense that he is trying to act or pretend like he is something he is not. He’s just being honest and sincere to who he is. Joshua Redman Read More…
Improvising over “On Green Dolphin Street” Video
June 26, 2013 by 8 Comments
Here’s another video of me playing with that Hal Crook play along. I’m not even sure if this play along is still being published. It’s called “Creative Comping for Improvisation”. I haven’t seen it since the early 90’s. It is such a ball to jam to because the comping is not traditional at all. There Read More…
Michael Brecker’s “My One and Only Love”
April 29, 2013 by 7 Comments
I’ve been getting back into a Brecker kick over the last few weeks and found this video on Youtube today. It reminds me of the first time I saw Michael Brecker in 1986 with Steps Ahead. Such an intense energy and passion. He was a true master of the tenor saxophone. Enjoy!
Dexter Gordon “More than You Know” Documentary
February 23, 2013 by 5 Comments
Here’s a great video documentary on the life and playing of the great tenor saxophone player Dexter Gordon. It is called “More than You Know”. I’ve watched it a number of times and absolutely love it. Check out the blues “Blues Walk” that starts playing around 1:13! Dexter kills this blues. His lines and quotes Read More…
Chris Potter and Joe Lovano Video
April 22, 2011 by 2 Comments
Here’s a great video of Chris Potter and Joe Lovano playing together in NYC. The first two clicks are of the jazz standard Four. The last one is of Bye Bye Blackbird. It’s amazing to see these two masters playing together. You can tell they really enjoy each others playing. This is some pretty hardcore Read More…
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