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.

For all your Revolutionary Ideas ~ If the founding fathers used MS Word

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Gandalfe

You can bet that TJ, GW and gang would have loved having Microsoft Word when crafting the Declaration of Independence. Luckily you have it to capture your revolutionary ideas! See what it would’ve been like if Word was around in … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Microsoft, Oddities, Politics, Video, YouTube | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Baritone Sax Lessons ~ Taking the high road

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Gandalfe

Excerpted from the Woodwind Forum thread, “Bari Sax Improvement” by Terry Stibal. First, with a school instrument, if it is at all possible, get the use of the horn restricted to you and you alone. I know that it’s hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Clarinet, Education, Saxophone, Woodwind Forum | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

NSFW: Xmas Flowers

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Gandalfe

Another holiday picture from DOMAI.com that gets me in the spirit. I’ve decided to share some of my favs from Eolake’s world famous site. If it chases some readers away, then maybe it’s all for the good? In my old … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Blogosphere, Holiday, Photograph, Too Spicy for some | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Mood for some Big Band Fun!

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Gandalfe

Last night’s In the Mood performance was sooo much fun. In this picture I caught most of the sax section and some of the many singers doin’ their thang. I dreaded this gig and discovered that I luv it! In … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Holiday, Humor, Music, Theater | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WCB Holiday Wrecking Crew

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Gandalfe

The WCB concert on Saturday was awesome. We brought the house down, the musical wrecking crew that we are. There was the reading to music of the Night before Christmas, the bass sax solo to Ward Baxter’s Grinch, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Holiday, Music, Saxophone, WCB | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Music du Jour: Rhapsodie for Saxophone

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Gandalfe

Saxophonist Joonatan Rautiola regales us with his interpretation of this André Waignein work. Classical Sax for the Uninitiated A rhapsody is a poem or a musical piece characterized by a style consisting of loosely related fragments. The movements are linked … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical, Music, Saxophone, Video | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Full Boehm Clarinet in a modern world

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Gandalfe

Terry Stibal in 2006 reviews your full Boehm clarinet options. For many years, Selmer offered the complete line of clarinets, as did Heckel, Leblanc and Buffet. However, that has changed and now you are quite limited as to extra keywork. … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Clarinet, Education, Music Instruments, Vintage | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Baby it’s cold outside

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Gandalfe

I am taking a day off to prepare for a weekend with three concert gigs. In between cleaning the mouthpieces, setting the reeds, and practicing the gnarly parts, I am looking for some music to highlight in next year’s concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Band Management, Big Band, Female vocalists, Jazz, MJB, Music, Too Spicy for some, Vocalist, Xmas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: The Sensuous Dirty Old Man ~ Isaac Asimov

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Gandalfe

Last year I purchased this book from Amazon on a whim because of its quirky title. I must admit that the fact that Isaac Asimov wrote this was also compelling. Something was not right, so I was curious to read … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Nude, Religon, Too Spicy for some | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Great Flute debate: Open or closed hole

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Gandalfe

Gordon Palmer, a friend of mine who can be found via the contact info at the end of this post recently posted this gem on the Sax on the Web site. I wanted to put it here for my many sax friends who, like me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Flute, Music Instruments, SOTW | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments