I thought I'd run my latest experiences past this august group of pros. I've kinda dug myself into a rut that I am thinking about a lot and trying to fix. We started a new big band by splitting the existing humongous jazz ensemble in two. We are in reality the B band.
When I worked with the band president and Jazz Program Director to do this I got roped into only filling the five chairs and building a great sub list. But it is rare when we have five saxes show up and the section doesn't give me enough time in all cases to fill the position.
I keep an extra set of all the sax books and bring in practicing pros to sit in with us when I'm given enough notice. I've already reneged on the agreement and have six saxes, replacing me at lead tenor with a better soloist. I'm sharing the lead alto chair with my wife. And when someone doesn't show up, Suzy or I can cover all chairs.
Now for the quandary. The lead tenor is out all month and I'm luving it. But he'll be back in August. He, Suzy, and I are the only ones who can play and own the instruments for any chair. He's a better reader than Suzy or me and the lead alto position needs to be played by an aggressive and sometimes very loud player. That's not Suzy.
Also, I get all the hard solos which is becoming kind of hard on my ego. But I want to do what is best for this section. More dynamics, Suzy is becoming good, but she doesn't have the confidence or sound to sell a solo. And she is loath to schlep two instruments to every practice.
So my options:
1. Continue to eek out a shared lead alto position with Suzy with the anticipation that the pregnant 2d alto will be out for a while, which she Denies. If that happens then Suzy and I could swap lead to get the better player on the right solos.
2. Move the lead tenor into the lead alto position as that would help the band the most, but I'd be back to covering the tenor solos, some of which I don't have down yet.
3. Fire everyone and start over.
Also the bari sax player is too tentative and doesn't normally play out. We had a ringer in last night and I realized how much we need a solid bari sax player.
Ah, the joys of building a sax section with the leftovers.
Thanks for lettin' me vent. By writing this down, I just thought of making Mark the lead alto and I'm thinking that would be the best for the section as a whole; put the strongest player in the most important position.
When I worked with the band president and Jazz Program Director to do this I got roped into only filling the five chairs and building a great sub list. But it is rare when we have five saxes show up and the section doesn't give me enough time in all cases to fill the position.
I keep an extra set of all the sax books and bring in practicing pros to sit in with us when I'm given enough notice. I've already reneged on the agreement and have six saxes, replacing me at lead tenor with a better soloist. I'm sharing the lead alto chair with my wife. And when someone doesn't show up, Suzy or I can cover all chairs.
Now for the quandary. The lead tenor is out all month and I'm luving it. But he'll be back in August. He, Suzy, and I are the only ones who can play and own the instruments for any chair. He's a better reader than Suzy or me and the lead alto position needs to be played by an aggressive and sometimes very loud player. That's not Suzy.
Also, I get all the hard solos which is becoming kind of hard on my ego. But I want to do what is best for this section. More dynamics, Suzy is becoming good, but she doesn't have the confidence or sound to sell a solo. And she is loath to schlep two instruments to every practice.
So my options:
1. Continue to eek out a shared lead alto position with Suzy with the anticipation that the pregnant 2d alto will be out for a while, which she Denies. If that happens then Suzy and I could swap lead to get the better player on the right solos.
2. Move the lead tenor into the lead alto position as that would help the band the most, but I'd be back to covering the tenor solos, some of which I don't have down yet.
3. Fire everyone and start over.
Also the bari sax player is too tentative and doesn't normally play out. We had a ringer in last night and I realized how much we need a solid bari sax player.
Ah, the joys of building a sax section with the leftovers.
Thanks for lettin' me vent. By writing this down, I just thought of making Mark the lead alto and I'm thinking that would be the best for the section as a whole; put the strongest player in the most important position.
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