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Home Alt Forums General Questions Playing sax in a band – anyone interested in this?

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Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 15 total)
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  • #27474
    Michael
    Participant

      Hi Johnny,
      That would be REALLY great, I’m keen on it for sure…I don’t think I’m by any means the only one either. I wish your touring manager would post more videos of you guys playing live other than the ones that he has on his channel…talk to him and let him know that one of your Saxophone students is watching his videos on his channels and is requesting “more” LOL I should probably leave a comment on his channel so that he believes you LOL
      I’m the one who had asked about if you could do a blog article or something on the “do’s and don’ts” of playing with a band. In starting to work with the great folks with the Blues Society here in Arkansas, they had shared stories with me of very talented musicians/players who got tossed off their band because they couldn’t “function” with one. They were sharing stories/experiences with me of very talented guitar players, keyboard players, etc.. who seemed to think they were the “main attraction”…even more so than the vocalist. They told me that, sure, they LOVE to hear someone solo and take the spotlight (especially on the Saxophone) but there’s a time and place for it. With us moving into our new place, getting all settled in, setting up my practice room/my display of Saxophone players on the wall, I put the weekly session with the guys locally on halt till after the holidays; which worked out good for them too because they needed personal time off too it being holiday season. It would be great timing for sure on your part if you could do something along the lines like you were talking about. It would be a great lesson for all of us, not just me..to be able to see as up close-and-personal as possible, exactly some of the do’s and don’ts of playing on a live band.
      How long are you guys going to be on tour? Are you just touring up there in Canada only?

      #27488
      Dazza
      Participant

        Go for it Johnny. As we all become more familiar and comfortable with the basics and progress our playing with backing the next big unknown is how to play live even if it is just with a guitar and drums and a vocalist. Nowhere to hide when you step up to blow those all important few notes in a little run or lick. I am sure we will all learn a great deal more from watching and listening to you play live. I think more and more of us tuning in to your insights are keen for some live stuff as one of my great disappointments is that there are few opportunities to see that around my home town. Whatever you can do in your busy schedule would be greatly appreciated.

        #27495
        Jazz Cat
        Participant

          that would be a big help (I’d make it a for-pay 2-3 lesson, 1-hour worth of video course $27-$47) to a lot who are learning…from my years of part-time gigging here’s my .02 for topics:

          a) how to Complement the singer (or guitar) without Competing… often people in new bands try to outplay each other, badly…so how and when to play “in the pocket” when the singers’ belting out a chorus, or when guitarist is soloing

          b) how to Solo onstage: you do a great job Johnny of MOVING with STYLE on Sax when you play, you motivate me…it’s a Lot different than politely standing up during a solo as lead alto in HS jazz band like I used to do

          c) how to FEND off the drunk women who invariably try to go to your motel/hotel room with you when the gig’s over…lol
          (unless they’re hot, in which case you tell them why ladies ‘in the know’ like sax players 🙂 ).

          good idea

          #27496
          William Cingolani
          Participant

            Great idea Johnny. The only band experience I ever had was a couple weeks in Jazz Camp years ago. I’d like to learn how to fit in. So I’m keen on the idea.

            #27523
            Z
            Participant

              That would be awesome. Just hearing you play live in your element would be fantastic.

              #27604
              john
              Keymaster

                Ok guys I will try to put something together
                it will take some time tho because the tour goes for 10 more days and shortly after that I have to go away again but I will keep you posted as I get to work on it

                #27632
                jake
                Participant

                  What name are you touring under. Would love to look you up and see one of your shows it you play anywhere within few hours of me. And yea, I with the other guys, would love to see/hear ya!!!

                  #28650
                  john
                  Keymaster

                    sorry for the late reply Jake but I missed your post!
                    The tour was under the name Legends of Rock and Roll and this specific show was called “Class of ’59”
                    I am home now and will start looking thru some footage I got.

                    #28658
                    wayne wojnarowski
                    Participant

                      Sorry for the late response as well , great idea, how can we get or could we get the guys and gals on this site to form a band?? I can play drums and alto. Michael mentioned that a few weeks ago. I think it would be exciting, fun and educational!

                      #28659
                      Michael
                      Participant

                        JOHNNY: Thanks for filming some of you guys playing, that will be a great learning tool for sure 🙂 Where do you guys tour at, mostly Canada? Are you guys going to be doing any touring now in 2016 or is it too early to know?
                        WAYNE: Speaking about drums, how’s it looking for you to do something with the backing track I e-mailed to you to drum with for a video collab? Thanks to Johnny’s awesome instruction, I have loads of licks/riffs I can use for that track. I was gonna have a go on it with my Alto..not too many people associate the Blues with the Alto, big mistake! We’ll be done with the arranging of the house now at the end of this month and I can pick back up on doing regular video uploads here to Johnny’s blog now in January…the Saxophone practice hasn’t stopped for me, thankfully. I would go crazy without regular practice! Let me know either yes or a no, hopefully it’s a yes! Having a drummer on there playing would be cool 🙂

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