Author Archives: Gandalfe

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About Gandalfe

Just an itinerant saxophonist trying to find life between the changes. I have retired from the Corps of Engineers and Microsoft. I am an admin on the Woodwind Forum, run the Pacifica Big Band (formerly the Microsoft Jumpin' Jive Orchestra) and participate in other ensembles. Mostly enjoy time with family and friends.

Hump Day Muses – trying the Aulos recorder thang

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Gandalfe

So I’m home to take Suzy to lunch and noodling with the set of four Aulos recorders that we got last month on a lark. And guess what? For a sax and clarinet player, these are not easy instruments to … Continue reading →

Posted in Hobbies, Music, Music Instruments, Recorder | Tagged | 2 Comments

Dave Anderson – Live in Seattle

Posted on April 9, 2007 by Gandalfe

A buddy of mine, saxophonist extraordinare and recent transplant from the Gothem city, is playing in Belltown this week. Tuesday, 4/10  8 pmEmerald City Jazz Orchestra (big band) at Tula’s, 2214 Second Ave, $5 Saturday, 4/14  9:30 pm – 12 … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz | 2 Comments

The Doubler’s Forum talks about instrumentation

Posted on April 8, 2007 by Gandalfe

Another keeper from Terry Stibal on the topic of cutting parts from theater show music: I would disagree with choosing the baritone as being the saxophone to eliminate. Instead, I would opt for the tenor. The reasoning goes something like … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

Jazz Dispute – Personified

Posted on April 7, 2007 by Gandalfe

I’ve been talking to Gary, the trumpet player, about playing solo instruments against each other as a conversation. Here is finally a very nice presentation of just such a conversation. I was astonished at the memory of this guy, tagging … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz | 1 Comment

Open Mic Night

Posted on April 6, 2007 by Gandalfe

My fledgling group the Dissonance opened for the first employee Open Mic Night last night. We played three songs opening with Night Train, then Blue Bossa, and closing with Jersey Bounce. The soloists were hot that night and the band … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz | 1 Comment

Pete Thomas talks solo chord changes

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Gandalfe

A friend of mine, another late bloomer musician, was talking about chord changes for a solo in an upcoming gig and he pointed to his homework site. It’s Pete Thomas’ Saxophone instruction site. When it comes to Cm13 or C13 … Continue reading →

Posted in Saxophone | 1 Comment

Conn Microtuner and other oddities

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Gandalfe

Conn used to make some of the best saxes in the world. They were the only company to make the mezzo soprano saxophone which was made in the key of F. They also made the Conn-O-Sax which was also keyed in F. … Continue reading →

Posted in Saxophone | Leave a comment

Painted Cats du Jour

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Gandalfe

  Anyone know where these pictures I received in e-mail came from? Apparently it can cost up to $60,000 a year to keep these cats painted!                           Still they are rather striking aren’t they.  You can see a bigger … Continue reading →

Posted in Pets | 1 Comment

Pandora – More Free Music than you can shake a stick at…

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Gandalfe

Wikipedia: The Music Genome Project, created in January 2000, is an effort founded by Tim Westergren, a 1988 graduate from Stanford University and spearheaded by a group of musicians and technicians to "capture the essence of music at the fundamental … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 3 Comments

NYT: Theater’s Alive With the Sound of Laptops

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Gandalfe

by Jesse Green AMONG the uncommon pleasures of the 2003 Broadway revival of “Wonderful Town” was that you could actually see the orchestra, arrayed like a decorative garland of brass and polished wood across an onstage bridge. Another was that … Continue reading →

Posted in Theater | 2 Comments