The saxophone
- From: "Danny" <online@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 30 Aug 2005 17:33:18 -0700
Hi,
I am a 15 year-old trumpet player who's been playing for about four and
a half years. I don't mean to sound arrogant but I've come a long way
in that time, and it's hard to describe my level of ability in words,
but I can play a coherent line on Moment's notice that follows the
chord progression much better than Fuller's did on the original. Oh,
and I can normally reach D above the staff, but with my high note
embrouchure, I can reach anywhere from the G to the C above that.
I was just working on an arrangement of 'Naima' in my head, starting
with a rubato (and heavily embellished) solo first chorus, working out
interesting embellishments to play, phrases that sound good, you know
the type of thing. Anyway, I realised that everything that I have ever
heard in my head (with respect to playing) has been a tenor saxophone.
Many of the phrases i think of are simply not possible on the trumpet
because of technical difficulties with the instrument, and I realised
that there were lots of ideas that, even if I got to the playing
standard of Freddie Hubbard, I'd never be able to play.
Also, I realised that most of my favourite stuff is done by saxophone
plaers, Coltrane is my biggest hero, but I also love Eric Dolphy, Wayne
Shorter, Ornette, as well as lesser-known people like the British
player Andy Sheppard (the most underrated player in the world IMO).
Chris Potter, Lee Konitz, Evan Parker and Stan Sultzmann also spring to
mind.
I can see where I am headed musically, I started out with fairly
straight-ahead bop, and have gradually, as I have got better, allowed
myself more freedom. Because I am playing in a school environment (a
bloody good school environment for jazz - there are about ten jazz
groups, and three or four good teachers who teach it), I am developing
alongside other musicians, and I can see that where I will want to be
eventually is leading my own quartet, playing a mix of new takes on
standards (I love odd time signatures) and originals, with a huge
amount of freedom melodically and harmonically, as well as
rhythmically. A trumpet is really badly suited to this kind of music,
though, and in terms of stamina I could not properly lead a quartet and
play at my best the whole time - I would get tired far too quickly.
Also the tenor sax has a lovely sound in the high and low registers
when played well, a sound I keep hearing in my head that I've never
heard anyone recreate on trumpet. It's the booming bass notes and the
Trane-like screechings and honkings of the upper register I'm talking
about.
I am seriously considering taking up the saxophone, and am interested
to know what fellow trumpet players, but also sax player, have to say
on the subject. I am NOT thinking about doing it because the sax is
easier, just that all of the music I envisage myself playing involves a
sax, not a trumpet.
My nine-year old brother is starting the sax in a few weeks, maybe I'll
just teach myself and get him to give me lessons (he'd love that).
Any comments would be appreciated,
Danny
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