Category Archives: Saxophone

Jim Schmidt’s Linear Fingering System for Sax

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Gandalfe

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut Jim Schmidt, inventor, musician, and part mad scientist has been working on a very unique sax fingering system that takes linear … Continue reading →

Posted in Music Instruments, Saxophone, Theory, YouTube | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Community Band Drama ~ Johan de Meij’s “Gollum”

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Gandalfe

I was listening to this video, yet again, and marveling at how much of the band dynamics were captured. Filmed by a musician and arranger, Jeff Keith, he pans to the soloist right in time, does a lovely split screen … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Community, Saxophone, WCB | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Gandalfe

I accidently found a recording of this band and just loved the bari sax line. So I thought I’d drop this here so that I can find it later, especially if I ever do a small jazz ensemble again. The … Continue reading →

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Top Five Bass Sax Observations

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Gandalfe

“I wanted an electric train for Christmas but I got the saxophone instead.” ~ Clarence Clemons The bass saxophone is one of the largest members of the saxophone family—larger than the more commonly encountered baritone saxophone. Only the contrabass sax … Continue reading →

Posted in Bass Sax, Eppelsheim, FAQ, Forum, Guides, Quote, Saxophone | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The National Community Band 2013

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Gandalfe

“From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else.” ~ John Philip Sousa Suzy and I will be performing in our third … Continue reading →

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Baritone and Alto Sax 2012

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Gandalfe

“If music be the food of love, play on.” ~ William Shakespeare A friend of mine took this picture of my pit set up for the “In the Mood” show. With just the two saxes, changing instruments was not a … Continue reading →

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“In the Mood” 2012

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Gandalfe

“It’s been a big week for our side. Over on the beaches of Normandy our boys have fired the opening guns of the long awaited drive to liberate the world.” ~ Glenn Miller during a radio broadcast of “I Sustain … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Band, Community, Facebook, Female vocalists, Saxophone, Theater | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Birdland Big Band on Section (Ensemble) Playing

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Gandalfe

The Rico Reed folks recently shared some time with the sax section from the Birdland Big Band. The conversation was so good I wanted to capture some of it here for future reference. Bret Pimentel · Assistant Professor of Woodwinds … Continue reading →

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Signs for the Sax Lover

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Gandalfe

Disneyland sax sign.

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The Sax Garage Band Experience

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Gandalfe

I invited some of my friends to a sax quartet/quintet reading session. We ended up with six players counting my wife Suzy and me. I have so many charts I haven’t heard so there was plenty of music. Many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bass Sax, Culture, Music, Music Instruments, Sax Quartet, Sax Quintet, Saxophone | Leave a comment