Category: General

This Saturday, October 30th there will be a special live stream performance with 3 excellent baritonists! Gary Smulyan, Frank Basile, and Jason Marshall will be performing a free online concert to celebrate what would have been Pepper Adams‘ 91st birthday!

The concert will be live-streamed on Facebook on the Planet Arts page at 1pm EST.

UPDATE 10/18/2021: Frank’s presentation has been archived and is available on YouTube. See below to watch!

On Sunday, October 17th at 3pm EST Frank Basile will be giving an online presentation on 6 of the most important jazz baritone saxophonists:
Harry Carney, Leo Parker, Cecil Payne, Pepper Adams, Ronnie Cuber, and Gary Smulyan!

In addition to being one of the best baritonists alive, Frank is a great historian and is incredibly well versed in the history and lineage of the baritone saxophone. So this is a great opportunity to see him delve into a topic that he knows more about than almost anyone.

The presentation will be available on the njjs.org website as well as on the NJJS Facebook page and YouTube channel. Attendance is free, but donations are suggested. If you can’t watch it live, it will be archived on njjs.org and the NJJS YouTube channel.

Read the full news article about  it on newjerseystage.com

The Airmen of Note US Air Force ensemble has an opening for baritone saxophone. This group is one of the best military jazz bands, and would be an excellent position for anyone looking for a steady, high level musical job.

AUDITION DATE:
October 12–14, 2021

AUDITION MATERIALS DUE:
September 10, 2021

AUDITION LOCATION:
Washington, D.C.

Click here for the audition materials and details.

You can read about the Airmen of Note here.

★ Annual Starting Salary: $67,676–$70,160
★ Full military benefits
★ 30 days of vacation
★ Full medical and dental benefits
★ Post 9-11 GI Bill for college up to $80,000
★ Four-year minimum enlistment required
★ Maximum age at time of enlistment is 39

Thank you to Tom Sabin for sending in a Gary Smulyan transcription on the standard “You Go To My Head”. This is from The Lure of Beauty – which is actually Gary’s first album as a leader, released 30 years ago in 1991. Its a lovely album, and a very nice solo.

Hear it below, and head to the transcriptions page to download a copy for your self!

Thanks to Martin Schaefer for sending in not one, but two Ronnie Cuber solo transcriptions! They are both classic Cuber solos. The first is “I’ll Remember April” from the album Love For Sale that Ronnie did with the Metropole Orchestra. The second is “Star Eyes” from his album Cuber LIbre. Both albums were a big part of my early listening and feature some peak cuber.

So head on over to the Transcription Repository and download copies for yourself!

I’ve recently come across several interviews with baritone great, Gary Smulyan, on YouTube. They are not professionally produced, but they are interesting to watch and give a great feel of what Gary is like and how he approaches music. Check them out below!

Thanks to Aidan Sears, we have a new Pepper Adams transcription up. This is on the tune ‘Tis’ from the album, ‘Julian’.

Head on over to the Transcriptions page to take a look!