WF New People Introductions

Hello Jacques.

It sounds to me like you're enjoying your retirement. Playing music is such an important and enjoyable part of our lives, suddenly having the time to do more of it perhaps is the embodiment of what retirement is all about. (At least for musicians.) :wink: Is there anything that you would really like to do, that you're currently not doing? Play in a rock band? Or maybe a Dixieland group? Maybe learn to play bassoon, even stranger yet, sarrusophone?

Well based on your set-up, you sound like a man after my own heart. You are a Dukoff player after all. I haven't found a tenor that a Dukoff doesn't work on. Altos, that's a different matter. I have come across some finicky altos that don't like small chamber pieces, but for tenor, my D7* is my main piece for jazz, while my S7 is what I use in electric blues and rock bands.

For bari, I must admit I am a bit old school. I have a hard rubber Berg that just kicks ass. I also have a stainless steel one that I use when the mood strikes me. Totally different sounds, and if anything, the metal one is a little mellower than the HR.
 
Helen,

Yep, I'm extraordinarily lucky to be able to enjoy a great retirement: kids on their way to the real life - even if this life looks tougher and tougher every day and underscores how lucky we baby boomers have been -, health OK (but... shoulders and neck pains since a couple of weeks: most certainly a side effect of having this 11M hanging for hours on its strap... ; have ordered a SaxHolder and have an appointment with a doc for next week...).

Yes, we're both Dukoff tenor adicts. After having ridden the usual mpc roundabout, driven by a reasonable GAS inhalation, and including two brief stops at the much touted Robusto and Boss stations, I'm back, as always, to my trusted D7. Punch, great lush overall sound, a bit of "nastiness" when needed - I hate these super-clean, sanitized sounds of most modern mpcs -; it's here to stay. How different is the S7 ?

On the bari, another common point with you: my "main main" has been a raucous HR Berg ../0/M for ages, I still keep it not too far. I however wanted something a bit more "à la" Ronnie Cuber - Nick Brignola, my men. The first contenders were - and still are - a pair of fantastic Phil Barone "made with proud" beginning of the 2000's that I bought from a great Vegas bari...who had switched to Drake. These Drake beasts are rather expensive and I jumped onto the sale of a Crossover II by a British fellow. Wow: you should give it a try: same spirit as the Bergs, with more punch, same great core and a bit more edge (listen to Bruce Johnston's demo on Drake's site), more volume.

Well, as far as my mad ambitions are concerned... Between my weekly lesson, the quintet and the Big Band, my musical days are pretty busy. Oh yes, current project: a friend of mine had bought from Ronnie Cuber his original arrangements for the Three Baritones Play Mulligan record and also had commissioned some good Swiss arrangers to write some additional scores . He alas passed a few months ago and his wife told we to go full speed ahead; so shall we, with three baris and a very good rhythm section. First gig: two full sets at the Swiss Radio musical program this end-of June. Shall keep you posted and could post some excerpts if I know how...

Keep swinging

J
 
Jacques5646 said:
Oh yes, current project: a friend of mine had bought from Ronnie Cuber his original arrangements for the Three Baritones Play Mulligan record and also had commissioned some good Swiss arrangers to write some additional scores . He alas passed a few months ago and his wife told we to go full speed ahead; so shall we, with three baris and a very good rhythm section. First gig: two full sets at the Swiss Radio musical program this end-of June. Shall keep you posted and could post some excerpts if I know how...
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Ooh, now I'd be up to listen to that!
 
Great ! The program is available in streaming the day after broadcast and I'll give you the link (if our playing is decent enough...).

Cheers

J
 
Hi I'm from Toronto Canada! I play Saxophone a some flute!:)

My Main gig right now is with a Blues and 50s R&B band we're called The 24th Street Wailers!
 
Old newbie.

Hello from N/W New Mexico. I played a number of decades ago, by ear, because I was a lazy California kid and wouldn't pay attention to my pianist mother. So now as a senile citizen I want to do it right, so I'm learning from the written notes. Much more challenging and satisfying. I'll be asking questions as we go, so I'll see you along the way. I have vintage altos and a Buescher baritone that is older than me. Onward.
 
Hi there Al. Welcome to the Woodwind Forum.

What kind of vintage altos do you have?

I am a player of vintage horns as well, and have quite few in and around my studio. I use vintage horns exclusively in all the bands I work in. The oldest horn I regularly use is also a Buescher True Tone. It's a bass sax from 1922. My other main horns are a little more current, and are mostly from the 1950s or early 1960s.

You'll find us quite a friendly and knowledgeable bunch here. There are a lot of pros and semi-pros hanging around this forum, as well as a number of teachers. We'll do our best to help you out.

You'll also find that there are quite a few outside resources provided by some of members through their own websites as well. A number of us here have very useful sites which may provide the information you're seeking.

What kind of music do you play Al? Are you currently playing in any bands?
 
Hey Al,

I started as an old newbie too (at 61) and have since learned a lot from many of these folks over the last 15 years - welcome to a wonderful ride and long may you play!!!
 
Late Bloomer in Ireland

Hello everyone

I'm a professional photographer and photography teacher based in Ireland, but I'm originally from the UK. I specialise in music and travel photography - and my live music photography work goes back 30 years, when I photographed rock bands. I have recently had a book published on Irish traditional musicians.

I also have a long background in working and teaching in Mental Health and psychotherapy, which I am retired from - and I'm not suggesting those skills should be needed here :)

I played brass instruments (mainly cornet) in brass bands when I was but a lad, and I took up the saxophone (alto) 10 months ago aged 58 and I am having weekly lessons. The only real advantage of the previous experience was that I can read music (a bit). I have played stringed instruments (inclusing the Irish bouzouki) in a semi-pro and live music setting for many years, but as you know, there's no comparision to woodwind.

I took the LCM Jazz-wind grade 2 exam last week (and managed to pass with 82%). Rumours of me bribing the examiner are greatly exaggerated. :)

I also have a tenor saxophone and a clarinet (that was given to me), but they really only make my home-office look good.

I am looking forward to joining in the "craic" here, as they say in Ireland.

p.s. my avatar is one of my own photos called "Wood and Woodwind".
 
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Welcome Stephen. I know *many* musicians who have come to sax as an instrument of last resort for various reasons. Often, they play better than me which can be hard to take. ;)

I look forward to hearing about your travails in music. Many new musicians find a community band to play in once they gain confidence. I use community bands often to play my doubles, like clarinet. Do you have that option where you live?
 
Hi Stephen, welcome to the WF.

Actually, I think your Mental Health and psychotherapy skills will come in very handy around here. We're all nuts in one way or another after all. ;) ... Mostly about our instruments though... :D

You sound like you have a very interesting, and incredibly varied background. I was very happy to read that you have an instructor. Most people coming to forums don't, which makes our jobs here so much harder.

I hope you enjoy your time here on the WF. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people who have decades of experience who are more than happy to share with others.

Since you're fairly new to the saxophone world, I hope you don't mind some unsolicited advice...

Whatever you do, don't get overwhelmed. There are a number of forums and saxophone sites out there with a boatload of threads that could bury you with the amount of information and misinformation they contain. Don't try to digest it all. (Trust me, it can't be done.) Be selective; be cautious about what you read; check the facts; and you'll soon find out who the people are that can believe, and who you can't.
 
Hi Stephen, welcome aboard - although I am also a newbe to this forum.

About 8 months ago, at age 75, I started clarinet and am just about to take grade 3, I also have just started to play alto sax.

I played drums, fluglehorn and G trombone in Keynsham Town Band in the 50s and drums in a rock and roll band at the same time.

I was fortunate enough to meet Count Basie, Sonny Payne, Lional Hampton and Stan Kenton backstage at the Colston Hall Bristol during a swop session with US bands and UK bands in 1956, I collected all their signatures on my snare drum skin - wow that would be a collectors item if I still had it today.

I have played guitar and banjo in my time but I never was talented at it although the guitar still looks at me across my den as I struggle with my minor scales.

So thats me, all enthusiasm - little talent.

Stay cool and let us have some views of your photographs.
 
Gandalfe said:
I look forward to hearing about your travails in music. Many new musicians find a community band to play in once they gain confidence. I use community bands often to play my doubles, like clarinet. Do you have that option where you live?
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Thank you for the welcome Gandalf. It's very small Sax community where I live, although the nearest university (Limerick) does have a jazz workshop on a fairly regular basis. I mentioned in another thread that there is actually only one serious woodwind shop in the whole country. I may brave the waters and turn up there eventually but perhaps not for a year or two.

As for my travails, I wouldn't want to bore you with them too much. But, one "regular" gig I get is as one of the official photographers at the annual Cork Jazz festival in Ireland. I get to be very close to the stages, and mingle with the stars backstage sometimes.

My favourites from last year were the Spanish alto sax player Perico Sambeat ("som-bay") and British / Caribeann soprano sax maestro Courtney Pine (what a true gentleman).

I hope you don't mind me posting a shot of Courtney playing a EWI.

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Funfly said:
About 8 months ago, at age 75, I started clarinet and am just about to take grade 3, I also have just started to play alto sax.
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That's genuinely very impressive and an inspiration to anyone who says..."I'm too old to learn a musical instrument" (or anything else).

Funfly said:
Stay cool and let us have some views of your photographs.
Click to expand...

There's one of Courtney Pine above and another one of a famous Irish musician Alec Finn in his castle (I'm serious), in County Galway, Ireland below. I hope you like them. :)


alec finn.jpg
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Mathew,

You wrote; "I live in the West Midlands (UK). I play the Ocarina, and I am in the process of starting an ocarina group here in the Midlands. I have also started to take up the Tin Whistle too."

I lived in the Telford area for some time and I wonder if you know about the kazoo bands. We are talking about the period before 1950 I think but many local villages around Telford (which didn't of course exist as a town in those days) had their kazoo bands and they were quite a feature. Places like Dawley, Maidley etc. which at the time were mining villages, the mining being open cast coal.

Kazoo bands - would you believe it?
 
Hey guys,

Long time bass player, relative beginner woodwind player here! Currently play alto sax and Bb clarinet and dabble on flute on occasion.

While an avid jazz fan on bass and sax, I'm looking to take a more classical approach on clarinet

Nice to (virtually!) meet you all :)

Lee.
 
Well, after 1 year I'm taking ABRSM grade 3 next week.
Actually not playing too bad as far as sound etc is concerned but I do have problems with stuff slipping out of my memory, I feel that will never be able to play G minor - I just keep forgetting it. I arrived for my lesson last week and couldn't remember the name of my tutor! - how embarrassing can you get.
Other thing is running out of puff, and having to sit down to play.
However I can play along to most backings without using those little birds sitting on the wires so musically I feel fine.
Wish me luck, an I the oldest clarinet student on here to take Grade 3?
P.S. Am also starting the Alto Sax, how unsociable can you get?
 
Hello, I am Graham from the UK. I have played the clarinet since the late 60's. I have a performer's diploma on the clarinet and a degree in music education. I play solo clarinet in a windband and am a director of music in the theatre (I used to be a pit player before that). I play Eb and Bb clarinets, bass clarinet, soprano, alto and tenor saxes and recorders.
 
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