Recently, the first saxophone I ever owned turned 30. I was 15 in March of 1979 when it arrived brand new from Manny’s, the NYC music store. I still play it, although in the last 30 years it has gone through long periods of silence. It is an alto, Selmer USA, model Signet, and it cost me $325.00. A schoolmate played that sax in the inauguration and closing ceremonies of the 8^th Pan American Games, held in Puerto Rico in July of 1979, while I played his tenor, a Selmer USA Bundy.

With my Signet alto I played at the School Concert Band from August, 1979 until my high school graduation in May, 1981. Then I played it at the Big and Concert bands of the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus. In those college years (’81 to ‘86) I played with salsa and rock bands and had a blast.

In June of 1991 I was already a lawyer when I purchased, also from Manny’s, another alto, a Yamaha 62 (for which I paid $1,875.00 back then). Years later, when I overhauled and played again the Signet alto, I noticed that it sounded better than the Yamaha. Last September I sold the Yamaha and got a Mauriat soprano, which I found much better sound wise than the Yamaha 675 I had and also recently sold. Now I’m planning on getting a Yanagisawa A-991, either the lacquered one or the silver plated. Any suggestions and insights are welcome!

- Roberto A. Fernández

A while back, I heard Maria Schneider talk at the Reno Jazz Festival.

She talked about her inspirations, people she knew, and theoretical aspects.

Out of the modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) she told us that Lydian is the brightest.

From there in ascending fifths (ie first up to C from F) they become darker.

Based off of that she made one of her songs darker through modulation.

Schneider also told a story about Gil Evans and how he had been sitting down trying to figure out a new way to figure a minor seventh chord that he had developed callouses on his ass.

She said that composers have to do that sometimes- just keep writing until they get it.

-Neal Battaglia

Learning Saxophone?

Saxophone Newsletter

I don’t usually blog, but since I was checking something, I thought why not share this amazing performance.

Alex Han is a young alto sax player that seems to be making a strong entrance into the jazz scene.  He has played with musicians like Marcus Miller.

Marcus Miller lays down some funky bass and played alongside Miles Davis, now he leads his own groups.

I liked the shape of Han’s solo- starts off simple then builds and really gets some intensity in there at the end.

Alex Han Playing

He started playing at age 8 and now tours the world playing music.

-Neal Battaglia
Learning Saxophone?