Where to start? Been busy on the playing schedule the last few weeks (except the Sunday lunch Jazz club which was cancelled due to England playing - bet everyone wished they'd come out now!!)
Let's start with lesson number 1. I have established I am not a Jazz player by any means of any interpretation whatsoever. Oh dear. I have been masquerading as one... actually I have realised I am somebody who is just a saxophone player who happens to play jazz tunes,and I am so grateful to have learned that lesson now so I can eventually become the jazz musician 'which I have created in my head' (which I have also realised, not being a 'jazz player' per se, is most likely permanent, but I can certainly have it as one of my goals (see previous blog and reference to Eric Daniel.
I have just attended a 3 day Jazz course at East Riding College in Hull as an extension of their annual Jazz festival. I'm fully aware I'm not the most spontaneous at improvisation but I was there to 'give it a go' as they say, and I am pleased to say that I did not embarrass myself...totally! Heck, if I was great, I wouldn't need to go on courses, but I have never come across a time in my life where I have not wanted to better myself.
Hence where we come back to why I went on an intensive jazz course! Gosh, should I quote ERIC DANIELS some more (clearly his stuff is worth reading as I am still thinking about the very basic principles of it 2 months later...!) My desire is to LEARN! I've clearly got the confidence and the personality to have a go at most things even though some reluctantly, which I understand I am lucky in that respect, but it is only because I have found something which I enjoy doing and I want to better myself.
For 3 days, I had it drummed into me..(listen to as much jazz as you can; don't just limit yourself to sax; find the style you like; find the music you like to listen to; find who you want to sound like etc..) ... I am still nonthewiser! I clearly have been influenced styalistically by many jazz players (coltrane, 'cannonball' Adderley, Duke Ellington, to name a few, but I also think Stan Getz (sometimes..), and Candy Dulfer (yes, don't choke, I can't help it.. Candy Dulfer!) are well worth their weight! So clearly I haven't found the type or style of artist I like; maybe I will remain a 'generalist' and will never commit, but I can try! Okay, for now, I'm favouring the 'modern camp' - Snake Davis (what a solo & band artist he is, seen him many times!); Alan Barnes (masterclass with him during Hull Jazz festival, genius, and very funny!); Joel Purnell - just blows your 'tenor' mind away!, Branford Marsalis & Candy Dulfer - prob cos she can play sax very well & she happens to be female! But the fact remains, I am liking all these players but don't really understand why? (Maybe they're alive!!) But all also didn't get to where they are now without intuitively knowing who they want to sound like - lesson number 2 - find my style and start learning properly!
I must mention briefly my 'SarahOnSax' performances - I was booked to do a wedding anniversary do, play a few light tunes while the guests dined and honestly thought it would be a quiet affair, 20 or 30 guests - walked in to 150 guests sitting down after the couple had renewed their vows, made my day! Last Saturday I had to belt out a set at a garden party - I was right down at the bottom with a full force gale blowing my soundwaves into the fields behind me - again with dogs running far too close to my much loved saxophone! I finished Saturday off with a regular gig at Caesars - but even that took me by surprise as the place was packed! And there were quite a few of my friends there who had arranged their night around me, so thanks girls, your support is much appreciated (tho one of them did request 'Anything by Madonna'?? What!!)
Let me finish on the following link to a short video from Branford Marsalis - in essence, he is saying the more solos you learn from professionals, the more information you have to develop your own, like learning a wide range of vocabulary, you can express yourself more clearly' Never a truer word. Definitely a lesson I can start learning now!
