So, pizza is in , time to take in a movie with Mother. This alto thing has me totally stoked. I won’t go further as I’m going to do a blog. The final chapter after years of playing. It really has to come back to Bird. For years, I’ve wanted to get be bop totally down. Early days relatively; I did bop on bari, but alto is the ultimate challenge. Does the name Dick Oats ring any bells ?
I’m pretty sure I remember the guys name, a random listen a while back from a live performance.
Man…..what a player !!
Hope your enjoying your day folks. If its OK, I’ll start that blog later,…see you then.

Can’t seem to find a place to blog this,the movie is awful….so !!
From the movie ” Bird ” to Peter Kings you tube footage of himself playing Birds Grafton at auction, I have always adored be bop. I played a few tunes from the Bird omnibook on bari, they sounded fine.
On tenorsax, I was frankly pretty lost. An average player who couldn’t find his voice. I can’t get enough Stan Getz, Charlie Rousse; that tone is unreal. At the same time the great Texas tenors, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, that driving blues with attitude, I was lost between the two.
Enter Dick Oatts. A chance live broadcast, with the most fabulous be bop tone I have heard. That settled it; I was going for broke, following a desire I had frankly been afraid of. Daunting.
I broke even just about selling my 10M ( not the greatest horn), my Grassi bari and a handful of vintage mpcs. For the first time in many years I bought a brand new horn. A Lupifaro ” silver series” alto. ( It has a bronze finish….go figure, lol !!)
Not the platinum series; way too pricey. I matched it up with a Vintage Brillhart Ebolin.
Its strange but there is something in having one horn, one mpc. No excuses, just make it work. I’m still looking at other vintage mpcs. I don’t know if the term ” great neck ” applies to alto or just tenorsax. In short, a close mpc, free blowing.
That comes to my first realisation regarding alto. Only harder reeds seem to produce satisfactory results. Tenorsax…..wide tips , softer reeds, no problem. On alto soft reeds to me sound awful. Thin at the bottom and just close up at the top end.
So, here we go !! The Bird omnibook and a great alto. A new year, a new chapter. I really think this will be my thing for as long as I play. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. From the dots and a knowledge of the twelve by rote; my own lines are slowly starting to develop. I’m stoked !!
Shame a breakdown had to happen, but if that is what it takes, so be it.
Thank you all for your support. It means a whole lot. I’ll keep you posted as to progress and in time load up a sound bite or two. Its going to be a good year…..for all of us !!
Take it easy…..jak.