WF New People Introductions [Archive]

SuzyJo

12-31-2007, 10:17 PM

I thought it might be nice to have a thread for all the new people who join this forum. Me, I played clarinet throughout high school, took a break and then four years ago started up on the soprano clarinet again. Since then I have added saxophone. I have played in a number of theater pit orchestra on alto, tenor sax and clarinet. In the Woodinville Community Band I play Eb and Bb soprano clarinet. In the Woodinville Jazz ensemble I play alto sax.

kcp

01-01-2008, 10:27 PM

Just dropping-by to say hello to Suzy, Jim, Pete, Ed and others. Many already know whom I am but for those who don't well, I play saxophone, mainly tenor and bari and am currently playing in two saxophone quartets. I also play bass guitar (elect) at quite a decent level - Unfortunately I do not play other woodwin. I bought a clarinet a little over a year ago with the intent of learning to play it but the clarinet needs repairs and I haven't got around yet to get it fixed (i know :roll: ) but i'd still would like to learn the clarinet some day... so maybe who know? This forum might inspire me to get started on that.

saxismyaxe

01-02-2008, 12:28 AM

Yeah, me too Kim. And since this is a forum devoted to Woodwinds, and I see you have a section on Pipes, I might be provoked into discussing at length my Great Highland, Irish Uilleann, English Northumbrian, and Lowland bellows Bagpipe making/playing/collecting fetish. :D

A treat for myself and a select group, a threat for others. :twisted:

Gandalfe

01-02-2008, 12:55 AM

..., I might be provoked into discussing at length my Great Highland, Irish Uilleann, English Northumbrian, and Lowland bellows Bagpipe making/playing/collecting fetish.Somehow I always suspected that about you Mike. :shock:

Kim, the clarinet will grow on you, so be careful. I now own a sop, alto, bass, and contrabass clarinet or two. Scary how that happened. :ugeek:

saxismyaxe

01-02-2008, 01:56 AM

kcp

01-02-2008, 06:41 AM

...I might be provoked into discussing at length my Great Highland, Irish Uilleann, English Northumbrian, and Lowland bellows Bagpipe making/playing/collecting fetish. :D

Please don't! Somewhat that scares me a little ... must be something to do with my French genes (and BTW who gave you the permission to hijack my thread, uh? ;) )

Certainly you must have heard the joke about why bag pipe players march as they play? :twisted:

Ed Svoboda

01-02-2008, 06:46 AM

Kim and Mike,

Big welcomes all around.

Glad to see both of you.

saxismyaxe

01-02-2008, 12:27 PM

Please don't! Somewhat that scares me a little ... must be something to do with my French genes (and BTW who gave you the permission to hijack my thread, uh? ;) )

Certainly you must have heard the joke about why bag pipe players march as they play? :twisted:

Kim,
Well you know the French have their own bagpipe, the cornemuse or musette! Here is an example:
http://www.hotpipes.com/fhp9.html

Ed,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Looks like you are in fine and esteemed company with your first members, yours truly exempted. ;)

Hijack over. 8-)

SteveSklar

01-02-2008, 01:43 PM

Hi Everyone,

Been playing the sax since 1974 and clarinet since 1978. Took a few years off after I decided music was not the way to go in college (due to health & future potential financial reasons). Then jumped back on board some time ago now.

I love the sax and clarinet. I play soprano, alto and tenor sax and Bb clarinet in duets, trios, quartets, college bands, big bands, and any other organization that needs a sub for short term duty. I also do alot of clarinet repair work even though my main day job is in Information Technology.

I also fiddle with the Piano (since 1970), flute and cello 1983ish plus a quagmire of other instruments. In the warm months you'll find me on the road (on a bicycle) most of the time when my 4 kids and other hobbies allow it - don't ask how many bicycles I have either, I think it outnumbers my instruments.

Merlin

01-02-2008, 11:22 PM

Hi folks,

Good to see many familiar faces here.

I'm playing flutes, clarinets, saxes, bassoon and recorders these days, mostly with big bands, orchestras and in theatre.

I'm doing some subbing in the Toronto production of White Christmas this week, then off to play with the Kingston Symphony in January.

Ed Svoboda

01-02-2008, 11:31 PM

Merlin,

Happy to have you here. I'm looking forward to you sharing your knowledge with a whole new community.

Gandalfe

01-03-2008, 12:25 AM

Merlin

01-03-2008, 02:02 AM

Merlin, I'm playing the sound bites you sent me this year. I luv your classical stuff. Wonder what your jazz stuff sounds like?

There's not much of my jazz playing available on record. I've got tons of private recordings of the Ellington tribute band I lead, as well as a few tracks here and there as sideman on other peoples discs.

LeoGigeck

01-03-2008, 02:09 PM

Hi guys,

I play the saxophone (most of the time on alto and baritone) and flute since 1997. I'm Brazilian and just 22 years old. I play in some big bands and I'm trying to get a RockaBilly band to play the tenor, but nothing till now.

Happy new Year.

L

pete

01-03-2008, 04:29 PM

Howdy, L?o!

Welcome to the new forum. Kick the tires. Enjoy some of the new sights.

cmelodysax

01-03-2008, 09:52 PM

Hello - as well as my obvious affection for elderly and oft-abused minority saxophones :roll: I also enjoy playing clarinet. Along the way I've aquired a cute little 'eefer', several C's and even more Bb's, plus an enhanced A, and a couple of Eb alto's.

Alan.

Gandalfe

01-03-2008, 09:56 PM

Hi Alan and welcome to our little experiment. Readers should feel free to check Alan's sigline link as that is a really good resource for some vintage instruments keyed in C.

kcp

01-04-2008, 02:22 AM

Hi Steve, Hi Merlin, Hi L?o, cmelodysax (and all you thread-hijackers) Nice to see you :)

Ed Svoboda

01-04-2008, 02:50 AM

Good to see some new faces.

Welcome!

Gandalfe

01-04-2008, 05:08 PM

Ed Svoboda

01-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Hi Steve, Hi Merlin, Hi L?o, cmelodysax (and all you thread-hijackers) Nice to see you :)Kim, I luv you avatar! I wish more people used their face on their av's because I might recognize them in the future as I travel. I've run into a number of SOTW forum people who I only knew from the forum. Most of them recognized me before I did them. Some of them were auditioning for the same gig I was! :mrgreen:
You're saying that I don't look like Gerry Mulligan?

One of these days I'll find a photo that I like of myself and post it. I much rather take a photo than have one taken of me.

pete

01-04-2008, 05:44 PM

FWIW, I look a lot like Ed's Gerry Mulligan avatar. Seriously.

I'm 150 x 150px and ...

No. Really. I've had other people comment that some of those b/w Mulligan pics look an awful lot like me. However, when you get good closeup shots, we look completely dissimilar.

I use the broccoli avatar Kim designed for me because it's traditional.

Don't worry about me auditioning for your gigs, Gandalfe :).

Helen

01-04-2008, 07:40 PM

Hi everyone. I thought I'd touch base and say "hello".

Some of you know me, but for those of you that don't, I play sax exclusively now...Although in the past I did play bass clarient & bassoon. I play soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones. My main love is R&B, but I currently play in a blues band and front my own jazz ensemble (although because of some neurological issues that developed in Nov '06, I'm pretty limited with what I'm able to do). I'm getting better, so I hope to get back to my usual crazy music schedule before long.

Over the past few years my website has inadvertantly become one of the main sources of information on the Net of some of the more obscure brands of horns like LaMonte, Huttl, and to a lesser extent, Pierret.

Anyways, that's enough for now. I just wanted to say hello & that I look forward to being involved with this new woodwind community.

Regards, Helen :mrgreen:

Ed Svoboda

01-04-2008, 08:39 PM

Helen,

Good to see you. Are you still playing on the Bass Sax prototype mouthpieces you helped me with?

Ed

Gandalfe

01-04-2008, 10:02 PM

Hi Helen! Welcome aboard. When ya gonna come try the three Eppelsheim bass (bass, contrabass, sub-contrabass) saxes here? Now that would be fun. :ugeek:

SuzyJo

01-05-2008, 06:06 PM

Helen, you do know that your bass sax story spurred my husband (Gandalfe) to buy one (Buescher) and then another (Eppelsheim) bass sax don't you! :shock:

Welcome to the Woodwind Forum.

Helen

01-05-2008, 06:49 PM

Hi there Ed. Yes, those bass M/Ps have become the ones I use all the time when I play. They are way more free-blowing than the one I got from Paul. I also prefer them to the Bundy bass M/P that I have. (I believe it was the "original" one that Paul found in the case when the horn was rediscovered at the middle school.) You're onto something. Have you made the "refined" pieces available yet? With the growing interest in bass saxes, most notably the new Asian horns on the market, you could fill a niche market.

Yes Gandalfe, that would be fun. My poor old Buescher would feel very insecure though...Seriously, we should try and get together this spring or summer. That would give me a bit more time to improve, and actually play my bass again. The last time it was out of it's case was 11/06. Do you still have your Buescher? Or did you end up selling it?

SuzyJo...Guilty as charged. :twisted: It is a sickness we suffer from. My apologies to your family for any afflictions I may have brought into your home. On the other hand, we seem to be a fairly harmless bunch, despite our illness. :lol:

Ed Svoboda

01-05-2008, 07:07 PM

I do sell them now although I have made some changes to how I want to do business. I have also started to sell the occasional large chamber conversion piece.

I almost had a bass sax a few weeks ago but I couldn't convince the seller to end the auction early and to sell to me. It was a local horn and they really didn't want to ship it. The funny thing is that it sold for way more than it was worth as it was a dog with fleas that needed a lot of work to bring it back to life. It was also missing the neck so a call to Karsten would have been in order. I figure the guy who bought it overpaid by about $1000. That's the advantage of looking at it in the flesh.

Gandalfe

01-05-2008, 08:45 PM

I figure the guy who bought it overpaid by about $1000. That's the advantage of looking at it in the flesh.Hmm... maybe you'll see it on eBay again.

Helen, anytime you're planning a trip to Seattle, give me a heads up. There are a lot of cool sax players you'll want to meet up with. :ugeek:

Ed Svoboda

01-05-2008, 10:31 PM

I figure the guy who bought it overpaid by about $1000. That's the advantage of looking at it in the flesh.Hmm... maybe you'll see it on eBay again.

I'm sure I will. I'm pretty sure I know who bought it.

eddierich

01-13-2008, 02:11 PM

Hi, I'm Eddie Rich and I'm on SOTW under the same handle as here. I am about to finish a contract at the Venetian Macao as a flautist. After that, I'll go home to Las Vegas and try to get back into subbing shows there.

I have a degree in saxophone performance from Ball State University where I studied saxophone with George Wolfe and Adrien Re and clarinet with Caroline Hartig. Since then, I have taken up the flute and studied with Tina Hadley in Las Vegas.

I have a real passion for woodwind playing and feel that I am making a transition from being a saxophonist who plays doubles when I have to, to being a woodwind player.

I'm really glad to see a forum that is focused on woodwind playing and I look forward to learning and sharing with everyone. :D

Ed Svoboda

01-13-2008, 03:58 PM

Eddie,

Great to have you on board and welcome!

Roger Aldridge

01-13-2008, 09:30 PM

Great site Gandalfe!

I also see familar faces from the SOTW and Woodwind.org forums.

By way of a quick introduction I LOVE doubling and enjoy playing a wide range of musical styles. My primary doubles are tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, and alto flute. I'm a big fan of vintage horns. My tenor is a treasured 1934 Buescher New Aristocrat and my soprano clarinets are Couesnon. My primary Couesnon was made in the 70's and my back up is from 1960 (I was able to nail down its serial number to a production year). I'm also a composer.

Warm Regards to you all!

Roger

pete

01-13-2008, 10:08 PM

Hi, Roger! Nice to see that you came on over for a visit!

Gandalfe

01-14-2008, 12:06 AM

Roger! Welcome.

I'm still using your quotes from all over the Internet for my students. Here's hoping that this woodwind resource becomes interesting enough for you to post here too! The infrastructure is almost in place thanks to Ed and Pete's careful administrations. And Ed (Hurling Frootmig on the SOTW) just upgraded the hardware and service package. So most of the dust from this new construction is just starting to settle.

Ed Svoboda

01-14-2008, 01:24 AM

Roger welcome aboard. Good to see you.

Doc Frazier

01-15-2008, 06:11 AM

Hi,

I'm Doc. I'm a sax and clarinet player. There...I said it....I'm FREE! LOL! :mrgreen:

Ed Svoboda

01-15-2008, 07:20 AM

Doc,

We're happy you're here.

pete thomas

01-15-2008, 04:22 PM

Hello strangers!

Best of luck with the forum.

My woodwind endeavours include flute, piccolo, alto flute, clarinet and, wait for it,

The Quena!

pete

01-15-2008, 05:16 PM

Nice to see you around, Pete.

Quena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quena). Hey, I didn't know what one was.

SteveSklar

01-15-2008, 06:03 PM

Welcome all it's goodto see familiar faces.

This board has different rules as other boards but it should be fun and informative for all.

Doc
What's wrong with being a sax AND clarinet player ??

Doc Frazier

01-15-2008, 08:59 PM

Steve,

Not a thing! :mrgreen: Folks around here act kinda weird if you don't play flute also. I went throught a period of about 5 years with Bell's Palsy and could't play anything. I'm just now getting my clarinet chops back.

pete

01-15-2008, 09:03 PM

I just act kinda weird, period. Just ask Ed. And he's asked me three times to take care of that flute area and I keep saying, "Dude. My sister plays flute. I don't even hold one right."

It's good to know that you can play clarinet again. I can understand the feeling of wanting to but not being able to. Truly.

Gandalfe

01-15-2008, 11:19 PM

Welcome Doc! Is that a C melody on the Web site in your sigline. Sublime! What's your quartet doing now a days? 8-)

Pete Thomas, I luv your Mr. Lucky CD. I'm surprised you don't have that phenominal YouTube clip on your home page. I have it on the MySpace site I maintain. It's killer and always a good way to start a conversation about saxes. :ugeek:

Ed Svoboda

01-16-2008, 04:00 AM

Ed Svoboda

01-16-2008, 04:00 AM

Hello strangers!

Best of luck with the forum.

My woodwind endeavours include flute, piccolo, alto flute, clarinet and, wait for it,

The Quena!

Pete,

It's great to have you on board.

Ed

Doc Frazier

01-16-2008, 05:06 AM

Gandalfe,

Yes that is a straight C. One of the many customs coming from our shop. :mrgreen:

Our quartet is having to regroup since the 1st as my son has parted company to pursue his own career. We're breaking in a new bari player.

pete

01-16-2008, 05:46 AM

Gandalfe,

Yes that is a straight C. One of the many customs coming from our shop. :mrgreen:
Calendar. December 2008!

SteveSklar

01-16-2008, 05:31 PM

Welcome Michael, Good to see you on here.

tbmartin

01-17-2008, 03:40 AM

Hi folks. New here having seen the post on the Bass Sax Cooperative. I arrange music for sax quartet, mostly ragtime, but I've ventured into church music too. (If you're interested, send a PM and I can give details.)

I don't play as much as I'd like since music isn't my day job. My sax inventory is Sop, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. The alto is a 1922 Selmer - sweet tone! The Bass needs pads but otherwise in great shape. That's my next project.

SteveSklar

01-17-2008, 04:10 AM

welcome tbmartin

you'd be happy to know that there are bass players on this board.

I love those early Selmer horns .. lovely engraving, smooth keywork and a nice sweet sound.

Ed Svoboda

01-17-2008, 04:23 AM

themartin,

Glad to see you here. Looking forward to seeing many posts educating us on the bass sax.

RCNELSON

01-17-2008, 09:17 PM

I've been active on SOTW, but this one should be fun too. I'm a database analyst/team leader for a large healthcare system in Ohio, spend as much time as I can spare enjoying my passion, that of a woodwind player, primarily my 3 saxes but also include clarinet and flute in the mix. A BS in music ed way back in 1980, then on to computer programming and a MBA a few years ago. Primarily a jazz and community band player, also get my doubling fixes in community theater pits.

SteveSklar

01-17-2008, 09:20 PM

RCnelson,

welcome aboard.

I see that you have one of the super Selmers .. the VII !!
:D

Elsie

01-18-2008, 12:08 AM

Lo all
Name's Elsie. Clarinet originally, now sax. Sometime flute, occasional penny whistle and recorders. Music is mostly community wind band (two bands currently).
These forums come ten a penny and most are frequented mainly by egotistical children with poo fixations, so here's hoping this one will be a little more grown up.
Cheers
Els

pete

01-18-2008, 12:20 AM

Howdy!

(I lived in Texas for 7 years; I can say "Howdy".)

Enjoy the forum. My friend with the poo fixation has been confined to a different forum. Don't worry about him. However, some of us do have young kidlets so, the conversations about poo might become inevitable.

We'll try to moderate ourselves :).

Oh. I'd like to see some conversation about penny whistle. Just because. We're talkin' 'bout the same kind Jean-Luc Picard used on Star Trek, right? (OK, OK, less geeky: "We're talking about the instrument used to beautiful effect on such things as The Wexford Carol (http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=kconners&content=station&id=134390)?" I have that on a recording for soprano {voice}, whistle and harp. REALLY nice.)

RCNELSON

01-18-2008, 04:55 PM

RCnelson,

welcome aboard.

I see that you have one of the super Selmers .. the VII !!
:D

Ya know...I have a good one. Perhaps it's not a good VI or one of the best of the modern horns, but I believe if you are good player, you can sound good on a VII.

Ed Svoboda

01-18-2008, 04:58 PM

Minimally the VII is the most interesting horn Selmer ever made in that they tried to do some things with it that were a serious departure from their previous efforts or their subsequent efforts.

If may small hands could get around a VII tenor I would still own the one I had.

SteveSklar

01-18-2008, 06:18 PM

pete

01-18-2008, 07:59 PM

Most people measure hand breadth by how many octaves on a piano they span. Saxophonists measure them by make/model of saxophone they can play.

SteveSklar

01-18-2008, 08:43 PM

I cannot span 1 octave on a piano
i can get 7 keys but that's a stretch

but i can get around a VII pretty good :)

hey .. VII and 7 keys .... correlation ?

pete

01-18-2008, 09:10 PM

Seriously? Less than an octave. Hmm. How tall are you?

SteveSklar

01-18-2008, 09:14 PM

5'6"

pete

01-18-2008, 09:17 PM

Ah. My hand spans about an octave and 1/2, from thumb to pinky, if I stretch. I'm 6'1".

SteveSklar

01-18-2008, 09:21 PM

i also have some fused bones and such in my wrist and lower arm. My hands are not very flexible. Don't ever have me wait on you in a bar .. i cannot hold a serving tray flat at shoulder level if held like they hold them.

HaRon

01-18-2008, 09:41 PM

Oh dear, already been posting but no intro, sorry for that.

I'm Ron, late bloomer with music, even later bloomer with saxes. Started 20 years ago on trumpet and after several years made the switch to T-bone wich I still play in community bands and a bigband, also some combowork when needed. Several years ago there was a small bet going on involving me and a saxophone and there it happened. Still playing my Tbone in the bands but the switch is slowly in progress :D (Hey, had to learn a bit first), practice time is about 90+% sax, the Tbone gets the rest. Yes, I'm hooked.
Substituting in a second comm. band on tenor now and also on tenor in a 3 piece hornsection with a fun bluesband. Interested in way to many sax-related items, history, models, players etc etc. Great fun though, have to catch up a lot. Next step hopefully is switching rows in bigband.

Ed Svoboda

01-18-2008, 10:03 PM

Ron,

Welcome to the community. Glad to have you.

SteveSklar

01-18-2008, 10:10 PM

Welcome Ron,
what kinda of Tbone do you play ?

HaRon

01-18-2008, 10:22 PM

I've always played bass so most of the time I was on Bach Stradivarius 50B open wrap. But only with a F attachement. About 2 years ago my collegue on second chair started playing bass in another comm band and he got a a brand new Edwards. We decided it was best for him to do the same in both comm bands so I switched to 2nd chair using my trusted Yamaha 648 (4B).
He also joined our bigband so there I switch between 4th (on the Bach) and 3rd (Yamaha), whatever is needed.

Gandalfe

01-19-2008, 06:52 PM

Welcome HaRon. It's nice to have a versatile player in any band. I am called upon to play any of the saxes and sometimes bass clarinet. It really keeps it interesting doesn't. One song you are playing tenor sax and the next you have the bass sax intro solo to Honk.

Carl H.

01-19-2008, 07:00 PM

Carl H here. Semi retired violinist who plays percussion and single reeds. These days I seem to be playing more clarinet than anything else. After cracking my much loved pre WWII Noblet Bb doing pit work, I am on a quest for a newer setup I can be equally happy with. Currently playing an SML 5* with a Sumner 3, and looking for a barrel and ligature.

Gandalfe

01-19-2008, 07:21 PM

Hi Carl. As a hey it's a small world moment, I went to high school in Edina my senior year.

Wish you lived closer 'cuz you could visit and try my many brands o' clarinets to see what you might like. It will be interesting to hear what you finally choose as a new instrument.

SteveSklar

01-19-2008, 08:11 PM

Carl - welcome aboard.

hey - i still have that cello - can't seem to get rid of it :roll:

Groovekiller

01-20-2008, 02:40 AM

After a short struggle with the username/password/login process, I think everything is working for me. For the moderators, I just changed everything including my username.

My name is Randy Emerick. I've been a professional woodwind doubler since 1969. In this day and age, I can't believe there are any gigs left, but they keep calling.

I play all saxophones, flute, alto flute, bass flute, clarinet, and bass clarinet. I specialize on tenor and bari saxes, clarinet and bass clarinet.

I don't have a website, but my Myspace page, with sound clips, videos and photos is located here:

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

pete

01-20-2008, 07:56 PM

It's Randy!

Thanks for viewing our little experiment. Honored to have you aboard.

If you need your username changed, drop me a PM or e-mail and I'll get it done for you.

Gandalfe

01-21-2008, 02:15 AM

Groovekiller aka Randy, just luv your music. I'm listening to Airmail Special from your MySpace site. Welcome to our little experiment. Now, what's the groovekiller thang about; dude you have some serious chops. 8-)

Groovekiller

01-21-2008, 05:25 AM

Years ago I played in a group called the Atlantean Driftwood band. It grew out of the house band at Bachelors III, a nightclub in Ft Lauderdale. The leader was Peter Graves.

Members of that band read like a who's who of jazz players, including Mark Colby, Bobby Economo, Jaco Pastorius, Eric Traub, Billy Ross, Neal Bonsanti, etc.

The band got divided into 2 parts. The higher voices wre the Groovekillers and the low voices were the Root-huggers (Hug a root = play the tonic of the chord). I played baritone sax, so I was a Root-hugger, but I have used Groovekiller because most people would misinterpret Root-Hugger.

pete

01-21-2008, 06:00 AM

Well, one thing that I'm insanely happy about is that now there's someone else here that can tell me more about Sarrusophones ....

GK, it's like the dam burst this month. I had three people asking to buy your 16V and four others with different horns.

Did you record any Sarrusophone stuff while you had yours that you can post?

Groovekiller

01-24-2008, 03:17 AM

No, I never recorded with my sarrusophone while I had it. The horn had an interesting story:

I found a rare Conn single reed sarrusophone mouthpiece, and I was curious to try it on a Conn sarrusophone, so I started looking for one. I though it would be a long time before I found a playable Conn Eb contrabass sarrusophone, but by sheer luck, I came across one in only a week or two.

So I satisfied my curiosity, but I never was crazy about the sound of the instrument. When I got my Tubax, there was really no reson to keep the sarrusophone, so that's why I sold it. Whenever I played the sarrusophone, it was more for an "amaze your friends" situation than anything else.

When I sold it, I got twice what I paid for the sarrusophone, so I never regretted buying it. It helped pay for the Tubax.

Ed Svoboda

01-24-2008, 04:30 AM

How would you describe the sound of sarrusophone?

I've never heard one played myself let along come across one.

pete

01-24-2008, 05:31 AM

Sidney Bechet -- yes, THAT Sidney Bechet, on "Mandy Make Up Your Mind" (http://www.redhotjazz.com/songs/williams/mandy.ram). Solo starts at about 1:48. Real Audio. Eb contra Sarrusophone.

From http://www.redhotjazz.com/bechetarticle.html.

(Yah. We'll split these posts, later :))

Ed Svoboda

01-24-2008, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the clip.

It sounds a bit like a cross between a Bassoon and a Contra Bass Sax to my ears. Granted it's an old recording.

pete

01-24-2008, 06:19 PM

Yah. I just happened to know of that clip off the top of my head. I'll Google more, later ... unless Mr. GK's got a couple sound clips of him playing.

Dave Dolson

01-27-2008, 05:01 AM

Ed Svoboda

01-27-2008, 05:14 AM

Dave,

Great to see you here. Sorry I didn't mention it earlier.

Ed

pete

01-27-2008, 07:50 AM

Good looking site. Thanks, Ed, for directing me to it.

Age 67, played since I was 16 (1956) starting on C-soprano. Play exclusively 1920's jazz, although while in the Army in Germany (1959-61) played soprano in a rock-a-billy band.

Retired law enforcement. Now play soprano, alto, and clarinet with Golden Eagle Jazz Band in southern California (Steamers Cafe in Fullerton two Sundays each month) + casuals.

I'm glad that Pete named the Bechet recording with Clarence Williams' Blue Five for a sarrusophone example. He plays it the whole tune - the soprano on that recording was Buster Bailey.

Good luck with this.

DAVE
Hey, Dave!

And the gentleman playing trumpet in that clip is Louis Armstrong. I haven't read that full article I linked to, but I got that far.

From that same website, there are dozens more recordings (in RealAudio format) from the Clarence Willams' Blue Five, along with biographies and pictures, linked at http://www.redhotjazz.com/williamsb5.html. It's really quite a kewl website.

I had that clip kinda-sorta bookmarked. If I ever get time, I've got more Eb contra Sarrusophone stuff I can post.

Dave Dolson

01-27-2008, 05:58 PM

Pete: Yes, Armstrong, but I think it was cornet, not that it matters all that much, except to purists. Armstrong's work with the BLUE FIVE followed his time with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. Before Armstrong joined the BLUE FIVE, the band was good. When Louis joined up, it was dynamite . . . a marvelous improvement over and already good recording group.

In listening to Bechet without Armstrong, then after Armstrong came on board, one gets the impression that Bechet may have met is match - at least his equal in a young Louis Armstrong.

The vocal on MANDY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND was by Clarence Williams' wife, Eva Taylor, who was a wonderful vocalist and could sing styles other than blues (not that MANDY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND is a blues).

There's a riff Armstrong and the band plays in the out-chorus that is repeated in Disney's animated movie, JUNGLE BOOK. Not surprising when you realize that JUNGLE BOOK's music was done by George Bruns, who played trombone and tuba in many trad bands in the 1940's and '50's, including Turk Murphy's San Fransico Jazz Band and the Firehouse Five plus Two.

Another recording from the Blue Five, CAKEWALKING BABIES FROM HOME features some of the hottest breaks and choruses from Bechet and Armstrong recorded by anyone in that era - one of my all-time favorite recordings. They did another version within a two-week period where the band was called the RED ONION JAZZ BABIES, but the ROJB version wasn't as hot as the BLUE FIVE's version.

Speaking of http://www.redhotjazz.com, I have spent a lot of time on it, but there is another version from that site that lists all the recordings by song-title, alphabetically, and saves the surfer a lot of time by not having to plow through the text (but the text is interesting if one wants to learn more about the music and its players). http://www.mainely-jazz.com/rhsongs/song_title.html DAVE

MexicanDragon

01-28-2008, 10:18 AM

Hi there,

I'm Brent, an alto sax player (hopefully will broaden that "alto" bit down the road) from TN. I linked over here from SOTW and recognize quite a few names/faces/avatars. I lurked here for a few days then saw a post (which I'm about to reply to) which voiced a thought of mine I've had concerning horns (which I'm also about to post about) and knew this has the makings of an excellent forum. I was also an early adopter of a headphone off-shoot forum which has become head and shoulders better/different than the beast from which it came. (I'm a gear head, if you haven't noticed).

I started playing piano at age 7, sax at ages 11-20 then took a break til I was 25. I started playing in a community band in the Chattanooga, TN area and the passion and love of the horn came back in a flood of emotion/desire/drive. I've since started back taking lessons with a teacher who's first name is "Doctor" (degrees from Univ of Miami for BM and Univ of Arizona for MM, DM). I just put my horn, a 1945 Conn 6M-VIII in silverplate (96%+) in the shop for a mini-overhaul, and look to get it back this week.

I try to get in an hour or two of practice at least 5 days a week, but sometimes tough with two kids who may or may not decide to go to sleep at a reasonable hour. I also spend WAY too much time on forums (like this one), but I dig that whole "absorbing knowledge" thing... time will tell if I've wasted this much of my life...

So, that's a sliver of my life for you guys/gals to take note of (musical puns are great, no?) I look forward to being part of this community, and staying up even later at night waiting for those new posts to come!

**BRENT**

SteveSklar

01-28-2008, 02:44 PM

Great to have your onboard Brent. Enjoy the new board.

FYI - i have you beat, I have 4 kids I have to deal with. :P

Gandalfe

01-28-2008, 05:16 PM

Welcome Brent. Are you playing with any groups yet?

toby's old account

01-30-2008, 08:52 PM

Hi Pete.

I come in peace.

Honest.

I am Saxtroll, I play woodwinds and stuff.

pete

01-30-2008, 09:13 PM

Now THAT'S a name from the past. Saxtroll.

Drop me a PM. We'll chat. Enjoy the Forum. Kick back. It's too bad that we don't have virtual chips and beverages. Well, other than the cookie in your browser.

Gandalfe

01-30-2008, 10:46 PM

Hey Toby, I miss your vast collections of comparative sound tracks on songs like 'Round Midnight' and such. I've never seen another forum do that.

toby's old account

01-30-2008, 10:57 PM

yeah, that was fun.

I thought of it as "Standards Studies."

Where else would you get a chance to hear Caravan played by a trio of mandolins?

Gandalfe

01-30-2008, 11:00 PM

yeah, that was fun. I thought of it as "Standards Studies." Where else would you get a chance to hear Caravan played by a trio of mandolins?Did you ever compile any comments from those studies? I just used them to try to steal vocabulary for my tenor sax stylings. And not too successfully if truth be known.

toby's old account

01-30-2008, 11:13 PM

naw, it dies with the abominable forum...

We could do it here.

Toby

01-30-2008, 11:45 PM

Begone, troll. And never come back. I have ordained it and it will be so.

toby's old account

01-30-2008, 11:46 PM

Very well. I know when I'm not wanted...

*shuffles out the door*

pete

01-30-2008, 11:50 PM

Cute, Toby, cute. :P

Thanks for that, although I could have changed your username for you.

Enjoy the cookies! They're in your browser.

Toby

01-30-2008, 11:54 PM

ok... now that that's out of the way.

So yeah, I was looking for a subforum for performance/music/jazz or whatever. I'm not sure how such a thing would be organized but sure... the old standards study method. I was recently looking for as many versions of Besame Mucho as I could get my hands on.

I rather liked the old deal where people would play a standard and we'd get to hear each other do it. That would be as cool as hearing a half dozen standards done by pros. I think another forum did that kind of stuff.

So yeah..

Ed Svoboda

01-31-2008, 12:06 AM

Shoot me a PM with any suggestions you have and we'll see what we can do.

Ed

pete

01-31-2008, 12:13 AM

Or just start a thread in General Discussion (http://www.woodwindforum.com/community/viewforum.php?f=150). Based on Jim's comment about the mandolins, I'd assume it cuts across multiple instruments.

Interesting idea. Corrupting the words of a talk show host out here, "Thanks for making the Forum better."

SuperAction80

01-31-2008, 06:32 PM

I rather liked the old deal where people would play a standard and we'd get to hear each other do it. That would be as cool as hearing a half dozen standards done by pros. I think another forum did that kind of stuff.

So yeah..

Cool idea, but who said that I was a pro? ;)

There has been another cool trend going on in discussion forums lately. It seems that everyone has recording software of some type and obviously e-mail access. So musicians in discussion forums have been putting together "forum recordings". Meaning that a song is chosen and a track is laid down by one party. They then send it off to the next person who lays down the next track, and so on and so on. I've heard some pretty cool recordings by doing this. It's kind of like a forum comunity project.

Toby

01-31-2008, 11:20 PM

real easy if everyone uses finale or something

pete

01-31-2008, 11:59 PM

http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

It's free ....

kymarto

02-01-2008, 02:40 AM

Hi all,

Ed invited me to have a look and so here I am. Nice to have a new place in which to generate controversy ;-)

This is the first forum for me in which there is another Toby, so I guess I will have to sign myself as Toby2.

Quick intro: I started playing the violin at 6 but being left-handed I kept wanting to bow with my dominant hand. This led to a conversion to clarinet at 7, on to oboe at 13, and branching out to flute and alto sax at 19. One thing led to another, and I now have a veritable menagerie of instruments (including a five-string banjo, piano, keyboards, ukuleles and guitars, as well as a hammered dulcimer, before even mentioning the winds). As I have been in Asia for the past 22 years, I have been picking up Asian winds (up to and including Philippine Ifugao nose flutes). I am fairly serious about South American quenas and Japanese shakuhachis, which I have also been making on and off for more than 10 years. I have rummaged through the Japanese flea markets and kept my eyes open in the antique stores and now have a super collection of excellent shaks, which unfortunately I hardly play.

On the side of Western winds, I have a bunch of flutes, ranging from pic to bass flute, a reliable old R-13 clarinet, sop, alto, tenor and CMel saxes. And not much time to play them these days.

In the past I was sorta semi-professional; played in various orchestras and bands and pits and for shows and some recording here and there, but these days my day job is as a news and documentary cameraman and video editor, presently working for German TV in Japan and China.

Enough. Let the fun begin!

Toby2

sideC

02-01-2008, 03:23 AM

Beanie beanie chili beanie.
The spirits are about to speak.
Are they friendly spirits?

Hi everybody. Sure they're friendly spirits! Thanks for pulling me over here, Ed. I'm sideC but my wife calls me Julian. I work as a full time saxophone player. I'm from the Philly, South Jersey area, but now live and work around NYC. My primary horn is the alto, but I still play the other saxophones. My first horn was a school baritone back in '62. My first professional job was near the end of the '60s, and I've been gigging ever since. Still trying to get it right. :mrgreen: I see a lot of familiar faces here, and some cool new faces, so I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun. :D

Ed Svoboda

02-01-2008, 04:20 AM

kymarto,

Thanks for taking the time to come and visit us. Great to have you and Julian on board.

Ed

saxphil

02-01-2008, 04:22 PM

Hi folks- My name is Mike and play sop,alto,tenor,flute.I have been in several area R&R bands, the current one for 25 years, as lead singer and fitting in winds where possible. Used to play four or five nights a week when times were good and hold down a day job but jobs for us have dried up and laff,laff am much older. I have more time for sax now and my jazz taste has expanded.I recognize many of you from years of past posts and am pleased to be here. :D

Saxagenarian

02-01-2008, 07:47 PM

For those of you enjoy faces, especially you youngsters, I just thought I'd throw in my old face to show you what 30+ years of college teaching and/or dissipation can do a person (please don't begrudge an old man a little sax :roll: ) ...

My name's Dick Lane. I retired from active professoring (archaeology, at St. Cloud State University) in 1999 and have since returned to my former first love ? playing music. My aged body parts, or lack thereof, precluded my playing the horns I'd started out on in 1940s grade school ? fewer teeth, limited arm movement, etc and etc. ? so my choices were pretty much limited to single or double reeds. I visited a local music store in early 2000 to look into renting something I could try out. I thought I'd probably get either an oboe or clarinet for a couple of months to start with and then decide. But there was an absolutely beautiful Antigua Winds straight soprano on display that just sang my name ( :mrgreen: Dickie, Dickie ... buy me ...). I bought it on the spot (but still have occasional oboe envy)!

Since then ... SOTW, much good info, lots of pointers, a few more horns, lots of books, mouthpieces and reeds, a clarinet ? and, finally, taking advantage of a Minnesota law, allowing residents over 62 to audit (tuition free) courses at any of our state colleges or universities, I signed on as a music student at my old school some three years ago and have achieved (roughly) the exalted status of 5th semester performance major!

I've gained so much from all you folks at SOTW that I figured I'd follow along to the Woodwindforum and see what I might be missing out on. Thanks for having me!!

Ed Svoboda

02-01-2008, 08:17 PM

Great to have you here.

I wish more states would open up their courses to retired folks. Granted I've got a long way until I could take advantage of such a benefit but still.

pete

02-01-2008, 10:02 PM

Howdy, folks!

Just dropped by and saw that there are a bunch of new faces. Nice to see.

I'm gonna be scarce for the next little bit. I've got some college classes to attend to -- and I'm a LOT older than the first time I went to college ....

Gandalfe

02-02-2008, 03:25 AM

Wow, I recognize so many of you; thanks for checking us out.

Saxagenarian, being from Minnesota (Edina High and Mankato State) your Minnesota hat in your avatar just made me laugh. Saxphil, a pro eh? I bet you have a lot of stories to tell. Kymarto, back when I was first starting to read these kind of forums, I used to think you *were* the other Toby.

Welcome everyone!

SuperAction80

02-02-2008, 07:06 AM

I have to appologize Ed. You're the one who sent me the PM over at SOTW. I somehow mistook your avatar for saxismyaxe's. Ooops. :oops:

saxismyaxe

02-02-2008, 10:11 AM

My ear was itching, did someone mention my name? :lol:

I confess I couldn't remember emailing you SA80, but then I'm getting a little senile these days, so I went with it anyway. ;)

rleitch

02-02-2008, 04:58 PM

Hey Folks,

Rory from Halifax, Nova Scotia here. I've been a regular over at SotW for the past two years. Ed invited me to have a look and this looks like a great forum.

I love all sorts of jazz and blues music, but especially horn drenched blues music in the Texas and West Coast traditions. Among my favorite tenor players I'd list Arnett Cobb, Charlie Rouse, Maxwell Davis, and Julian Dash.

I've been playing sax for about ten years, about 8 of which were pretty much wasted playing alto with virtually no idea what I was doing. I switched to tenor about two years ago, and I'm trying to teach myself how to be a halfway decent player. I'm also really into the idea of classic American saxophones. I'm playing a Martin tenor that I got from Matt Stohrer in New York (a major GAS attack late last year has left me in possesion of a JK Bundy Special alto and tenor pair, but they may have to go).

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to chatting. My main interests chat-wise are: music history, brand-name players (old school), practicing tips, gear, music-related social issues.

Cheers,

Rory

Ed Svoboda

02-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Great to see you Rory.

I'm still really enjoying the Super Action 80 alto. Had a bunch of pearls replaced so I can wear them to my hands. How's the Morgan treating you?

Gandalfe

02-02-2008, 07:41 PM

My ear was itching, did someone mention my name? :lol:All the time Mike. Congrats on snagging two stellar new mods at SOTW. Should make your job a bit easier. 8-)

tjontheroad

02-06-2008, 05:59 PM

Hi, I play a guy named TJ on another fabulously famous website forum. Just dropping in...

:lol:

pete

02-06-2008, 06:01 PM

Hi, TJ! Nice to have you drop by!

tjontheroad

02-06-2008, 06:13 PM

Hi, TJ! Nice to have you drop by!

Thanks. You're all doomed now :twisted:

pete

02-06-2008, 06:30 PM

That's OK. I've had worse predictions :P.

Gandalfe

02-06-2008, 07:57 PM

Yo TJ, I don't remember you being a problem. 8-)

tjontheroad

02-06-2008, 11:38 PM

Yo TJ, I don't remember you being a problem. 8-)

Oh... Well, I guess I need to work harder at it ;)

Chris S

02-07-2008, 06:42 PM

Hi all,

For those of you that don't know me, I'm Chris S. I don't play so much as I used (am about 6 hours shy of a degree in composition - probably won't ever finish that). I'll mostly be a lurker around here, chime in when I can. I have been paid cash monies to play the following: Saxophone (all four major varietals), clarinet, flute, bassoon, piano, organ, accordian, guitar, bass, and concert percussion (made my debut on some David Gillingham piece. Name escapes me at the moment, but I played some mean logs).

I know Pete, Ed, Gandalfe, and probably a goodly amount of you from my work over at Sax on the Web. I've kind of taken over what Pete used to do there, do a lot of the back end stuffs.

Great to see you all here, hope there's some great conversations coming down the pipes.

pete

02-07-2008, 09:32 PM

Hi, Chris! Nice to see you! Take a look around. Don't mind the mess; we're still tweaking some areas.

WoodwindDoubler

02-13-2008, 07:29 AM

Hey Everyone!

I am new to this forum, but what a forum!!! I'm so happy I came across all you awesome people!

My name is Sarah.

I am an aspiring professional doubler currently in 2nd year at Humber College in Toronto in their Contemporary Music Degree Program. Unlike the majority of saxophone players at Humber, I LOVE doubling and will jump into it absolutely every chance I get.

I play as many pits as I can - currently at the community musical theatre level.

At school I play lead flute/pic in doubling choir (I played bass clarinet last semester), Tenor/clarinet/pic in Mark Promane's Big Band, Bari in Steve Crow's Reading Big band, Flute/tenor in Alex Dean's Jazz Workshop and I play alto/tenor/bari in masterclass.

I'm studying sax/doubles privately with Mark Promane currently... Best teacher EVER - I can't even describe the total change in my playing that has occurred with his help --- NIGHT AND DAY... and I'm just starting lessons on doubles with Andy Ballentyne (so I can focus on just sax with Mark) ... Both of those guys are AMAZING musicians.

Luckily I have had several amazing opportunities to hang in a professional pit and listen and observe (Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone, and White Christmas -- I was was there I think for the evening show the day you subbed in, Merlin) All of you woodwind guys are a riot.

I LOVE musicals more than I could ever articulate ... (I performed in my first musical when I was 4 and it just progressed from there)

Anyways ... Enough about me!

It's good to meet more fellow woodwind enthusiasts! I can't wait to talk shop with everyone! ;)

pete

02-13-2008, 03:36 PM

Hi, Sarah! Nice to have you visit our corner of the web!

Gandalfe

02-13-2008, 09:56 PM

Indeed, welcome Sarah.

I envy true doublers who play more than one instrument well enough that the casual listener would be hard-pressed to identify the player's primary instrument. In procuring instruments for your stable, I always recommend you get the best you can afford and then stay pat--not that I followed that advice. But I could have saved a lot of money by *not* trying to save money with some of first purchases, if you get my drift. :ugeek:

WoodwindDoubler

02-13-2008, 10:43 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

I hear you on the get good instruments argument. Mind you I'm too picky not too LOL! That and you have enough frustrations learning a new instrument without adding mechanical problems!!

Merlin

02-13-2008, 10:50 PM

Hey Everyone!

At school I play lead flute/pic in doubling choir (I played bass clarinet last semester), Tenor/clarinet/pic in Mark Promane's Big Band, Bari in Steve Crow's Reading Big band, Flute/tenor in Alex Dean's Jazz Workshop and I play alto/tenor/bari in masterclass.

I'm studying sax/doubles privately with Mark Promane currently... Best teacher EVER - I can't even describe the total change in my playing that has occurred with his help --- NIGHT AND DAY... and I'm just starting lessons on doubles with Andy Ballentyne (so I can focus on just sax with Mark) ... Both of those guys are AMAZING musicians.

Luckily I have had several amazing opportunities to hang in a professional pit and listen and observe (Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone, and White Christmas -- I was was there I think for the evening show the day you subbed in, Merlin) All of you woodwind guys are a riot.

I LOVE musicals more than I could ever articulate ... (I performed in my first musical when I was 4 and it just progressed from there)

You've good a good bunch of guys to study with there Sarah. Mark, Andy, Steve and I were all fellow students at Humber in the early eighties. Alex and I have played together a bunch too, though he's got a few years on me.

Did you catch the concert with Dave Grusin back in October? I was on that. My avatar here is from a concert I did there with Mendoza about 3 or 4 years ago.

Were you at WC when I was subbing for Peter, or when I played Andy's book?

Drop me a PM - I'm just down the street from Humber (right on the 501 line) and if you want to play some duets, I'm up for it.

zagor

02-19-2008, 11:26 PM

hi everyone, my name is andrea.
I am italian but I live in sweden, I play saxophones and clarinets (see list below) and I am studio engineer.

I own soprano, alto and tenor sax, Bb clarinet (one metal as well) and bass clarinet.

maybe I’ll get a longer list next week, with an alto clarinet...

check me out here, at

http://www.myspace.com/zagor76

pete

02-20-2008, 12:09 AM

Hi, andrea! Nice to see you here!

Sorry. I don't Myspace. :geezer2:

Gandalfe

02-20-2008, 12:14 AM

Cool baby sounds on your sound tracks and sax noises are good too. 8-)

I pinged you with MySpace. Welcome.

zagor

02-20-2008, 11:03 PM

thank you guys, I feel so stupid... why did it take so long time to find this forum?

well, the baby sounds are recorded when my oldest son was 3 months old... that tune actually has been played quite a lot in swedish radio.
did some of you listened to the clarinet quartet "Rumba"?

Gandalfe

02-21-2008, 12:48 AM

Did some of you listen to the clarinet quartet "Rumba"?Oh yeah baby! It's hot. Your arrangement? I'd luv to try to play that. 8-)

zagor

02-21-2008, 10:34 PM

Oh yeah baby! It's hot. Your arrangement? I'd luv to try to play that. 8-)

well, I wish!
it’s my clarinet teacher’s music... I think I can ask him if I can send you the arrangement. but it’s quite difficult, he’s not directly an internet guy, no mobile and he’s so shy. and he lives in italy!

Saxman123

02-28-2008, 11:24 AM

Great to find this board.
Well I'm hidden away on Vancouver Island, starting to play a bit more and hopefully to improve. Started in 58 with the Canadian military did a tour with Norad Band in 73 - 76 on clarinet. played Sax from 19 on ( how many girls do clarinet players meet?) Played R & R. After 20 yrs quit and went into business for 10 yrs, unquit and did 5 yrs more in Naden Band, Victoria ( I know military again :geezer2: ). Now back in business but playing in Blues Band on Thursday nights and loving it. Started looking around Web and found this and other sites.
Andrea loved the "Rhumba" but also the "Dasaxa" reminds me a bit of the group called "The Shuffle Demons"that played "Spadina Bus" at Expo 86.

http://www.shuffledemons.com/

pete

02-28-2008, 03:37 PM

Hi, saxman! Nice to see another Canadian on the 'board!

Saxman123

03-11-2008, 02:38 AM

Thanks for the welcome Pete. Took me awhile to get back..... must be Vista??? or old age.
Will be on more I hope....
:geezer2:

SteveSklar

03-11-2008, 03:27 AM

zagor

03-23-2008, 05:31 PM

Andrea, So are you like an acoustical expert being a studio engineer?

well, I had to take a change in my carrier when I moved to sweden... I don?t play live with bands or chamber music anymore, I feel fine working in a studio.
expert... well... you decide! I can do my job, but I?m far long to be a super studio engineer!

Gandalfe: Fixed quote tags.

tictactux

03-27-2008, 01:00 PM

Hmm. I see the usual suspects are already all here...

Yeh, about me - during the day I sit in front of a 'puter screen. If not, I'm a family and band person. Play clarinet, noodle on sax, tinker and repair whereever there's somthing to tinker and repair. Adrian Monk with dexterity in this regard (I will, however, not confine myself to Crystal Springs).

pete

03-27-2008, 04:51 PM

Nice to have you aboard!

Ed Svoboda

03-27-2008, 10:47 PM

Welcome to the community!

Connical

05-14-2008, 11:49 PM

Hello to everyone ! I too have spent time on SOTW as Toobz.
I originally started on piano at age 4. In 1974 I took up the clarinet.
Switched to sax in 1975. Also have spent some time on flute.
Messed around in the late 70's and early 80's around SoCal trying to
make a go of it in the industry. I have also played in a number of local bands
of all sorts. Spent some time teaching too. Nowadays, it's just me and my horns.

I hope not to be a BORE as my user name suggests !

Ed Svoboda

05-14-2008, 11:58 PM

Connical,

Welcome to WF and we're glad to have you here.

metbysax

05-21-2008, 04:10 AM

Hi all.

My name is Steve, I am qwerty from the SOTW board.

I am a public school elementary band teacher (25 years) and am a freelance doubler, taking pride in my abilities to cover just about any saxophone or clarinet part(including e flat and bass clarinet) parts in any show. I am working very hard on my flute/picc chops, practicing as often as I can.

I also enjoy classical saxophone and classical clarinet as well.

This place looks great! I look forward to spending some time here.

pete

05-21-2008, 06:50 AM

Hi, Steve!

saxmanglen

05-21-2008, 04:13 PM

Hi all!

I guess I haven't done my intro here.

I'm Glen with the same "saxmanglen" handle from SOTW. The name pretty much says it all. I'm pretty much one dimensional in that I mainly play soprano, alto and tenor sax. I do have a WX5 breath controller that I dabble with once in a while. I also have an older Noblet clarinet I picked up a few years ago but it sits in my closet most of the time.

I live on the Cental Coast of CA with my wife and 2 wonderful daughters (6 and 11). I gig once or twice a month with a 9 piece bigband style group locally. I play tenor sax with that group. I also enjoy golf, cycling and spending time with the family outdoors.

Merlin

05-21-2008, 04:30 PM

Gandalfe

05-21-2008, 05:19 PM

Steve, you are now providing too much work for my old brain. Same person, two names. 8-)

Glen, you know you show up on my IM now right? I know when you get up and and when you're late for a gig. :twisted:

Carl H.

05-21-2008, 08:01 PM

Hey Steve, Is it alright if we call you Marty?:twisted:

Merlin

05-21-2008, 08:09 PM

Hey Steve, Is it alright if we call you Marty?:twisted:

Don't tempt me Carl!

I'm itching to try yellow carding someone!

Muahahahahahahahahahaha!

pete

05-21-2008, 10:29 PM

I don't understand soccer (football) rules.

I just ban everyone. Saves time.

saxmanglen

05-21-2008, 10:43 PM

Glen, you know you show up on my IM now right? I know when you get up and and when you're late for a gig. :twisted:

Wow! Your up when I get up? Insomnia is a horrible thing, isn't it? :???: :grin:

PS I added you to my work IM too. :P

metbysax

05-22-2008, 12:16 PM

Hey Steve, Is it alright if we call you Marty?:twisted:

I suppose you could. No wait. He likes the Red Sox, right? On second thought, don't you dare.:evil:

bpimentel

05-26-2008, 03:05 AM

If we're still doing introductions here...

I'm Bret. I recognize lots of names here from the SOTW forums and the woodwind.org forums.

I study, teach, and gig on flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and of course saxophone; plus recorders, whistles, bamboo and wooden flutes, and other folk and ethnic woodwind oddities. I'm a perennial student, though that may be coming to an end as I'm entering my final year of a doctorate in multiple woodwinds performance at the University of Georgia (go Dawgs) and there apparently aren't any more degrees after that.

Some of you know me from my personal website, where the most popular attraction is the big list of woodwind doubling in Broadway musicals (http://www.bretpimentel.com/doubling/shows). There's other woodwind-doubling-related stuff there, too, if you're into that.

Nice board you guys got here.

Merlin

05-26-2008, 04:06 AM

saxmanglen

05-26-2008, 04:18 AM

http://r3.fodey.com/1f0f60db5c2974b50a1d5299ca27dc622.1.gif (http://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/talking_squirrel.asp)

Sorry, I was playing around at the following website. My bad.....

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/preview_squirrel.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/talking_squirrel.asp&h=160&w=260&sz=29&hl=en&start=24&tbnid=27BRVVcEq7h3WM:&tbnh=69&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsquirrel%2Banimated%2Bgif%26start%3D21%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Ed Svoboda

05-26-2008, 04:48 AM

Very cute.

pete

05-26-2008, 05:22 AM

Very disturbing.

saxmanglen

05-26-2008, 05:27 AM

I think I must agree with Pete! :-)

WoodwindDoubler

05-26-2008, 05:31 AM

... freaky and yet somehow endearing.

Ed Svoboda

05-26-2008, 06:28 AM

I'm all for an animation that sings the praises of WF!

Gandalfe

05-26-2008, 05:24 PM

Very funny! Glen, you're hired. 8-)

DanCraven

06-28-2008, 07:04 AM

Hi folks!

I'm happy to arrive at what appears to be another great woodwind resource, and look forward to getting to know the community here. There are certainly some familiar faces from other places.

I play and teach on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, and feel very privileged to live here. There's a great jazz community all over the island, with some pretty heavy players that keep the rest of us inspired.

Outside of music, I love my kids (& wife of course!:???:), bernese mountain dogs, and single malt scotch.

If you would rather read my bio in 3rd person, it's available for free at my site (http://dancravenmusic.com), where you can also hear me groan through some tired old tunes.

See you around the forums:-)

Dan

Gandalfe

06-28-2008, 06:08 PM

Actually when I saw you join I went to your site and started playing against your recordings. Fun stuff. Welcome to WF. 8-)

Dave Dolson

06-28-2008, 06:23 PM

Bowmore, Lagavulin, and Laphroig are my favorite single-malts. DAVE

Merlin

06-29-2008, 03:40 PM

DanCraven

06-29-2008, 08:15 PM

Great to have you here Dan.

Do you run into Roy Styffe at all? He and I went to Humber together, and did a fair amount of playing in big bands over the years.

I met Roy soon after he moved out here. I've had the pleasure of playing with him a couple of times, at an outdoor concert Phil Dwyer puts on every summer in Qualicum Beach. Nice guy to talk to, and he sure can play!

TheHearing

07-02-2008, 05:09 AM

Hello.

My name is Alexander. My username on Sax on the Web is TheWane.

I play the soprano and tenor saxophones.

I live both in southern California (Los Angeles area during the breaks) and northern California (San Francisco when school is in session)

I attend San Francisco State as an English major and hope to teach in high school and then in a community college.

I am a strong enthusisast for Avant Garde Jazz and free improvisation. I see my self as an improviser and not only in the "avant garde" sense, but in any context.

Good to see more community resources on the woodwinds!

Gandalfe

07-02-2008, 05:18 AM

Welcome to the WF. Is that a vintage sop in your avatar pic?

TheHearing

07-02-2008, 05:33 AM

The player isn't me.

It is Bruce Ackley of the ROVA Saxophone Quartet.

I think he plays a Selmer Super Action 80. I could always ask him if you are interested.

Gandalfe

07-02-2008, 04:09 PM

(From Wikipedia) The Rova Saxophone Quartet is a San Francisco-based saxophone quartet formed in October 1977 at the same time as their "less adventurous" but better known colleagues the World Saxophone Quartet. The name "Rova" is an acronym formed from the last initials of the founding members: Jon Raskin, Larry Ochs, Andrew Voigt and Bruce Ackley. Read more... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rova_Saxophone_Quartet)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=112728071

TheHearing

07-02-2008, 06:06 PM

Here is the ROVA Saxophone Quartet's official website:

http://www.rova.org

Tammi

07-06-2008, 05:31 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm Tammi from Lake Odessa Michigan. Some of you may know me as bandmommy. I'll do my best to behave myself.

I've been playing clarinet for 37 years but that doesn't mean I'm good.
I do a little teaching. Mostly clarinet, flute, sax.
I'm the principle clarinet in my Community band and play in a community theater pit orchestra once a year.

Most of you know that I have 3 beautiful and talented daughters, the eldest to be married at the end of this month.

If it's ok with everyone, I'd like to hang around for a while and learn a few new things.

Carl H.

07-06-2008, 05:55 AM

Welcome Tammi!
How are things progressing towards the date? Is your hand uncramped yet? (From invitations, for those who don't know)

(Still waiting on a pic of Emma.)

Tammi

07-06-2008, 07:39 AM

The hand is uncramped but the 'pencil bump' is peeling.
I think everything is set to go except for the last minute stuff....Decorating, final count for the caterer, paying for everything.

I will be out in the barn most of the day tomorrow so I will be sure to take the camera. I hope Emma is in a co-operative mood. She's a stinker.

I have an OOPS lamb that needs a name too. Molly, the Hoochy Momma, is a 10 year old 200lb Hampshire. Daddy is one of my Jacob rams. The Jacobs are about 1/2 her size and on the other side of a gate that is 6 inches thick.

I'll get some of him to send too. He's all black, very small, and VERY cute.

Carl H.

07-06-2008, 07:51 AM

I hope Emma is in a co-operative mood. She's a stinker.

Perfect:lol:

Connical

07-06-2008, 08:08 AM

Welcome Tammi !

Hey Carl, I have a different breakdown to your definition.

Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.

I always thought that youth was cocky ignorance and middle age was miserable uncertainty ! :grin:

saxmanglen

07-06-2008, 12:22 PM

So glad you found your way here Tammi. This is a much less busy board that's much more laid back. I hope you enjoy it here. :-D

Tammi

07-06-2008, 08:33 PM

Thanks Glen,

I think I'll learn alot here.

tictactux

07-06-2008, 09:16 PM

Oh my. It just dawned on me that I've never done the Official Appearance Thing here. I'm the same I'm everywhere else, mainly because I see no reason at switching nicks and handles across newsgroups. Google and find.

tjontheroad

07-07-2008, 03:10 AM

Gee, every girl I ever met named Tammi was a bit.... well... crazy :grin:

I know you will not let us down ;-)

Ed Svoboda

07-07-2008, 04:40 AM

Welcome Tammi. Glad to have you on board.

pete

07-07-2008, 07:13 AM

Howdy to the newbies!

TheHearing

07-07-2008, 07:40 AM

Welcome Tammi,

I am new here as well and enjoying it very much.

Tammi

07-07-2008, 08:55 AM

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

I was a little apprehensive about registering here.

Merlin

07-07-2008, 12:55 PM

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

I was a little apprehensive about registering here.

That's 'cos of me, isn't it?

Welcome to the WF, Tammi.

Ed Svoboda

07-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

I was a little apprehensive about registering here.

Nothing to fear. I think you'll find this is a nice and knowledgeable bunch.

saxmanglen

07-07-2008, 05:28 PM

In all seriousness, this place seems like an older/more refined group of folks. I hope it continues to stay that way.

Ed Svoboda

07-07-2008, 07:50 PM

I think that the core we have developed (meaning people contributing like all of you) will help keep it moving ahead in the manner that we want. When Jim, Pete, and I embarked on this great experiment we all agreed that we wanted to foster a community with a high level of conversation about woodwinds. That remains central to our continued mission.

WoodwindDoubler

07-07-2008, 09:55 PM

This place is awesome! Friendly, positive people with lots of invaluable knowledge! Everyone is so including :grin:

Ed Svoboda

07-07-2008, 10:33 PM

This place is awesome! Friendly, positive people with lots of invaluable knowledge! Everyone is so including :grin:

Thanks!

TheHearing

07-08-2008, 12:51 AM

In all seriousness, this place seems like an older/more refined group of folks. I hope it continues to stay that way.

I am 20 years of age.

:P

saxmanglen

07-08-2008, 12:53 AM

I am 20 years of age.

:P

So, I guess you fall under the "refined" category, right? :P

pete

07-08-2008, 01:08 AM

I'm older than dirt. At least, I feel like it.

Tammi

07-08-2008, 02:02 AM

When you start farting Mummy Dust you're old.
Until then, to quote Tower of Power, You're Still a Young Man.

Gandalfe

07-08-2008, 02:06 AM

When you start farting Mummy Dust you're old.
Until then, to quote Tower of Power, You're Still a Young Man.Coolness. I haven't been called a young man in a while. Welcome Tammi!

tictactux

07-08-2008, 07:47 AM

I'm older than dirt. At least, I feel like it.

Sounds familiar, in a way. This is what daughter #1 recently said unto me:
Daddy, you're not old. You just look old.

pete

07-08-2008, 05:02 PM

The 13 year old thinks 30 is old. I wooshed by that awhile back. The 4 year old thinks ... 9 is old. I remind my 13 year old of that.

WoodwindDoubler

07-08-2008, 11:13 PM

I am 20 years of age.

:P

I guess that means I should hand over my I'm the youngest here crown LOL!

Tee hee hee.

I am 23.

saxmanglen

07-08-2008, 11:30 PM

I guess that means I should hand over my I'm the youngest here crown LOL!

Tee hee hee.

I am 23.

You twenty somethings are disgusting! :P:P:P:P :lol:

pete

07-09-2008, 12:05 AM

Just remember, in comparison to us all, Gandalfe is positively ANCIENT.

:P

While semi off-topic, I remember hearing from some folks that if you're not over a certain age or haven't played $instrument for a certain length of time, they discount your posts. Hey, I've had people tell me that I'm not a "pro" musician because I worked as a director -- running a music department, arranging music and teaching lessons -- rather than as some gig musician.

Just goes to show that age and position don't mean a thing.

My actual age is unimportant. Hey, my mom says she's 29, so I've gotta be a little older than that, right? (I think I told her awhile back that if you've been 29 for 29 years you have to pick a different age. She beat me with her cane for that remark.)

Carl H.

07-09-2008, 01:27 AM

I guess that means I should hand over my I'm the youngest here crown LOL!

Tee hee hee.

I am 23.

Well crap!:-(

My newest black gig shoes are older than you!:geezer2:

WoodwindDoubler

07-09-2008, 03:24 AM

Well crap!:-(

My newest black gig shoes are older than you!:geezer2:

That's awesome! :o)!

Groovekiller

07-09-2008, 04:13 AM

Find the local symphonic flute player, or clarinet player, or oboe player. Take lessons. That doesn't mean you aren't good. It means that you are young enough to take command of the local situation if you are a kliller player. Do it. If you aren't there now, you can be.

Carl H.

07-09-2008, 04:28 AM

Tammi

07-09-2008, 04:37 AM

What if you are the 'local' flute, clarinet, or oboe player? Do you still need to find the symphony?

Carl H.

07-09-2008, 04:39 AM

What if you are the 'local' flute, clarinet, or oboe player? Do you still need to find the symphony?
Absolutely. You should be attending performances and seeing about joining/auditioning for the group.

Tammi

07-09-2008, 04:48 AM

This 'local' would get laughed out of the audition. IF there ever were an audition.
To get into a symphony around here someone has to die before they hold auditions.

Groovekiller

07-09-2008, 05:24 AM

Remember:

As far as your skills, it doesn't matter where you are now. Just get better. Find a way. Yes, someone has to die before you get the top local position. That's not the focus. play everything. Get better. The music biz changes. By the time the top dog dies, you can be better prepared than the number 2 dog. It's not a contest. It's an art. Be an artist. it's really hard, but if you have the time and the love, you are the best prepared.

tictactux

07-09-2008, 08:37 AM

To get into a symphony around here someone has to die before they hold auditions.
...they audit at funerals? Whoa. 8-)

Tammi

07-09-2008, 06:41 PM

I think I'll just be happy with being on the high side of mediocre.
Right now there's not much fight left in this old dog.

Saxplayer1

07-10-2008, 06:04 AM

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum and pleased to be on board. Thanks Dave for the plug. Formerly on SOTW. I'm primarily a tenor and soprano player in the contemporary jazz scene but do double as a clarinetist depending on the job. Glad to be on board.

Randy

Dave Dolson

07-10-2008, 06:14 AM

Randy: Welcome aboard - and thanks for following up on my tip about this scene. DAVE

Saxplayer1

07-10-2008, 06:43 AM

Thanks Dave for the info. I've come accross this site before and always enjoyed Ed's reviews and commentary's. Very objective and inciteful. Glad to be on board.

Randy

Ed Svoboda

07-10-2008, 04:53 PM

Randy,

Welcome aboard. Glad to have you here.

insinkerator

07-24-2008, 11:54 AM

Hey everyone i'm new here. My name is Killian im 18 and from Ireland

I currently play bass and guitar, and to tell the truth i dont think i have ever played a woodwind instrument. Bar the recorder when i was like 8 or something. Im here because i have always wnated to play the saxahone and im looking for advice.......8-)

SteveSklar

07-24-2008, 01:30 PM

Welcome Killian
This is a good place to start, we can answer any question you may have and assist you in your journey of learning to play the saxophone. Myself i've enjoyed playing sax for 34 years

Dave Dolson

07-24-2008, 05:58 PM

Hi Killian: I doubt that many of us are familiar enough with the musical scene in Ireland to offer specific advice. However, I'll bet there are some band-instrument stores near enough to you to aid in your quest.

My advice would be to find a store that deals in band instruments (not your typical guitar/drum/keyboard store either, although some of those may dabble in woodwinds) and seek out those who give private lessons through the store (either store employees or contractors). Then, sign up for lessons and be guided by the advice you receive in face-to-face conversations with your teacher.

I've seen your other posts here and wondered how any of us could possibly cover all you need to know to even get started. The post(s) would be gigantic.

From a guy who has played saxophone for 52 years. DAVE

fballatore

08-03-2008, 04:47 AM

Hey I'm new here. Hi everyone. ;-)

Gandalfe

08-03-2008, 04:58 AM

Welcome Frank. Wondered how long it'd take you to check us out. 8-)

Dave Dolson

08-03-2008, 05:03 AM

Hey Frank: Welcome aboard!! Just so's you know, that cheap-*** soprano you sold me is playing quite well, thank you. I still have it and the more I play it, the better it plays. Oh, it still isn't up to the level of my old Bueschers or my Yanagisawas, but if it was the only soprano I had, it would work. Actually, it is better than the VI I used own (and from which it was copied). DAVE

pete

08-03-2008, 05:44 AM

Hi, Frank!

Ed Svoboda

08-03-2008, 06:44 AM

Welcome aboard Frank! Great to see you.

saxismyaxe

08-03-2008, 07:53 AM

Hi Frank, it's about time you checked in!;)

fballatore

08-03-2008, 01:53 PM

Oh, I've been lurking for quite a while. Finally decided to come out from hiding. ;-)

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Hey Dave - that's great to hear! Love to hear a clip sometime... :-)

Dave Dolson

08-03-2008, 06:17 PM

Frank: "Sometime" is the operative word . . . DAVE

fballatore

08-04-2008, 12:57 AM

Awww, c'mon Dave... You gonna make me wonder how great you sound on it? :)

BTW, glad to see you over here.

Dave Dolson

08-04-2008, 01:08 AM

I struggled like mad (with saxmanglen's help) just to get two sound clips posted in the soprano section. Actually, I don't think the horn matters much - they all sound pretty much like me when I play them.

Glad to be here, too. DAVE

saxmanglen

08-04-2008, 06:36 AM

Welcome to the board Frank!

:lol:

JKST90

08-09-2008, 09:49 PM

hey i'm JKST90 i've played sax for a while (6 years) i knw i'm not as expeerienced as others but i'm learning as i go on (right know Clarinet, trumpet, piano) i know flute and bassoon. I just want to say hey and that i'll probabley be posting some stuff...

Gandalfe

08-09-2008, 10:03 PM

Welcome Julian. So what happens to your alias when you ditch the Keilwerth for a Selmer Ref? :twisted:

Actually I started up again on Couf Superba I's (alto/tenor) and still have them. As you probably know they are very JK'esque. But once I tried the Selmer Reference Series I dropped some inheritance money on a matched set and have never looked back. Still, those Couf's sound mighty find when I use them as backups.

What kind of music do you play and do you gig? Do you have a web site?

Cheers.

sideC

08-10-2008, 01:12 AM

Wow. Another Julian? I guess that makes two of us hanging around here.

Welcome, and have fun!

So I guess that if someone yells....."JULIAN"...... two of us will turn and yell back....."WHADDA YA WANT?"!!!!!!!

tenorsaxman90

09-25-2008, 08:07 PM

Hi, everyone, I'm Mike Serban and I'm a senior in high school. I started alto sax in 7th grade after 2 horrible years in strings class(violin and cello), and eventually added flute, tenor sax, and clarinet the following year. I also play piccolo(concert band) and oboe(orchestra) which are in demand at my highschool since I'm the only oboist in the HS, and the other piccolo players hate playing the piccolo. I also am known to have a lot of other various instruments such as recorder(soprano), pennywhistle(in D), and a beautiful Cooperman fife in Bb. I have also played bass clarinet, bassoon and alto flute for various ensembles and pit orchestras( but I don't own these...yet).
I have also been playing piano for about 13 years as well as organ for about 4 years. I have also been taking lessons from a professor at Butler University, but have taken a break for a few months(hopefully getting back to lessons soon!). I also plan to go into music ed. for college. This is such a great site!

Gandalfe

09-25-2008, 09:45 PM

Welcome Mike. I, for one, would be interested in hearing about your playing experiences with all those exotic instruments. 8-)

tenorsaxman90

09-25-2008, 10:49 PM

In all seriousness, this place seems like an older/more refined group of folks. I hope it continues to stay that way.

I am 18 years old, and lovin' music since I was a kid!

pete

09-25-2008, 11:52 PM

Well, just be refined, then :P.

BTB, if you play oboe halfway decently, you'll never want for work. Seriously.

bar-ron

09-26-2008, 09:49 PM

Hi folks,

from sotw, where I cut my teeth in curiosity and banter.

I live and work in Derry Nh and play in one Community band and two different quartets. (Formerly was playing in two community bands and quartets but that was getting confusing music and instrument wise)

I could never remember which folder I was using and which horn to bring

I even went toa concert whereing the wrong bands shirt.
At least i had the right horn and music.

Have enjoyed Merlin's former Conn Bass sax for years now playing it when ever I can in quartet and bari in Concert band. Found a Zinner mp that makes it sing.:-D

Gandalfe

09-27-2008, 02:31 AM

Welcome bar-ron. What kind of stuff do you play in the quartets? 8-)

bar-ron

09-27-2008, 05:29 AM

Paul Coats arrangements, Philip Marillia, Ken Abeling, Robertson (Sax-o-peel) and William Higgins and of course a few from Bruce Evans. Have marches from Sibelius arrangers, beer drinking songs and holiday numbers.

We play a variety of music from popular to swing and novelty tunes. The usual amount of holiday things thrown in too.

Have done some Political cook outs, parties and of course our concerts with the main band.

We are prepping for Christmas with Ken Abeling Jazz Christmas tunes, and our usual band books and some miscellaneous stuff I have compiled over the years.:roll:

Gandalfe

09-27-2008, 06:39 AM

I think I have all of Paul Coat's arrangement. Luv his stuff. Isn't Ken's stuff from the Sibelious site?

I'd appreciate any pointers to how I can purchase more sax quartet and for that matter clarinet choir music.

bar-ron

09-27-2008, 04:03 PM

Yes Sibelius has very good arrangers for sax quartet.

Dorcet Winds, Ken Abeling (Send him an e-mail he has more stuff not listed)
I bought a Christmas jazz book of 10 and a March book of 10 or so that are my prized arrangements.

Saxquartet goes a drinking was written by my inspiration by Rodney Parker. I also have the black and blue danube (A comedic waltz filled with beer drinking songs but remains the blue Danube throughout) Another of my encouragements by a sibelius arranger.

A lonely old town at night by Abbott (I think), is like Harlem Nocturne .......bluesy, mysterious and paints a picture of city streets.
Paul Abbott has a few good ones as does Barton.

I will send you a list of what I have gotten over the years to your messages.

William Higgins music.com has great arrangements.

Send a message to Sax-o-peel and they have some very good arrangements too.