JazzBariSax.com

Recently people have been inquiring about other sites we’d recommend around the web. Well here are a few of our favorites at JazzBariSax.com!

There are so many websites dedicated to the saxophone, here are just a few:

• www.bestsaxophonewebsiteever.com – Great articles, reviews and information about the saxophone in general
• www.modernbarisax.com – Reviews, articles and interviews relating to the baritone saxophone!
• www.vandorentv.com – Excellent videos and interviews of great wood wind musicians and Vandoren Artists. Theres an app for iOS and Android too!
• www.saxpics.com – A huge repository of information and images of vintage saxophones of all types.

Go forth and check out all the awesome web sites dedicated to saxophone, and the baritone saxophone!

Charles Evans’ last album garnered a rare 5 star review from DownBeat magazine. His newest album looks to be no less impressive. It features Charles along with fellow saxophonist Dave Liebman.

To celebrate the new release there is a CD release party at ShapeShifterLab in Brooklyn.

Be sure to check out this new album, and head to the CD release party for some excellent baritone saxophone performances.

A new transcription of a Ronnie Cuber solo on the beautiful song, “Emily” has been posted to the transcription page. Thanks goes out to Bohdan Janeczek for this new transcription!

Gary Carner, who has done a huge amount of work to promote and spread Pepper Adams‘ great legacy has a new project and it needs some help from everyone. See what he has to say about it:

“I’m very excited to let you know that I’ve recorded a fantastic new CD of big band charts of Pepper Adams compositions for Motema Music.  This is the sixth CD in my series, and it’s the first recording of its kind ever undertaken.  It will be released in January, 2014.  It wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the esteemed British arranger Tony Faulkner, who wrote all the charts.  Faulkner is little known outside of England, but this project should change that in a hurry.

Ten superb performances that were done over Easter weekend by the Concert Jazz Band at the University of Illinois, with solos by their superb faculty, including Glenn Wilson.  I need to raise $7,000 to pay the arranger for all his great work, to pay the engineer to mix and master the date, and to pay for Faulkner’s flight to the US so we can promote this great music with concerts, lectures, and radio shows throughout the US and Canada.

In order to release the recording, and subsidize the CD marketing tour to promote this great music in advance of its commercial release, I’m asking for your help. Kickstarter is a project-driven, crowd-funding website that allows the Pepper Adams world community to work together in a grassroots way to make this happen and perpetuate Pepper Adams’ legacy.  But it’s an all-or-nothing deal.  If I don’t meet or exceed my goal of $7,000 by the 30-day deadline, no money changes hands, no rewards are given, the new recording stays on the shelf, and the tour is in jeopardy.  Can you please help? Can you work with me to bring this exciting project to fruition?

Please use either URL, go to the site, and donate whatever you can.  No donation is too small and all is very much appreciated!  For your generosity, some great gifts await you!  You’ll see them at my Kickstarter page.

http://kck.st/12JDNVI 

This is a 30-day sprint, so please spread the word.  I’m looking forward to sharing this music with you. Long live Pepper Adams!

Thank you,
Gary Carner”

The winner for Baritone Saxophone in the 61st annual DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll is Gary Smulyan!

The winner for the Rising Star category is Vinny Golia.

We’re looking forward to the readers poll opening soon!

Roger Rosenberg has recently submitted a great article with his unique insights on playing in sections as a baritone saxophonist. Roger has a huge wealth of knowledge when it comes to playing in ensembles and he has played and recorded with some of the best bands around.

Click here to read Roger’s article on section playing!

You can catch Roger June 1st at Smalls in NYC co-leading the Hayes Greenfield-Roger Rosenberg Quartet. Roger will also be on tour with Steely Dan mid July through October.

In this installment of the JazzBariSax.com interview series we are featuring one of the best, and hardest working baritone saxophonists out there today, Lauren Sevian has been good enough to take a few minutes to answer some questions for us.

Why the baritone? After struggling with the alto, I tried the baritone and discovered my “voice”. Been with it ever since!

Favorite recordings of and/or with baritone saxophone? Pepper Adams “Encounter” with Zoot Sims, and Burn Brigade with Ronnie Cuber, Nick Brignola, and Cecil Payne. Also a fave is Coltranes “Dakar” with Pepper Adams and Cecil Payne.

How did you find your way to the baritone saxophone? I felt like it was better suited for what I wanted to say vs playing the alto or tenor.

What’s your equipment/set up? A Buffet (new) Low A 400 series, RPC mouthpiece, Rico H ligature, Rico 3 reeds (yes orange box!)

Low A, Low Bb, or “My favorite horn is the one in front of me” ? I’ve always been a low A gal but recently tried the first low Bb horn I really liked! So I’m curious…but I will always go back to playing a Low A.

Anything specific to the baritone you recommend practicing? For me, any kind of technique exercises to help facility, especially in the upper register, helped me tremendously. Especially chromatic exercises.

Tips for young baritone saxophonists? Longtones, practiced in wide intervals to train your embouchure.

Favorite venue/place to play? Jazz Standard! Also like Kitano & Smoke.

When travelling, does the horn go under or in the plane? I used to bring it on the plane, but due to difficulties traveling recently I just try to get a bari wherever I go. I have a golf case to check it in if I absolutely have to.

Favorite quotes about music? “If music be the food of love, play on” -William Shakespeare

What do you do when not playing music? I like cooking, going out with friends, chilling at home in front of the tube.

Bonus Question: “A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?” He says, “Oh hello El Boogie I’ve brought you your sombrero back.” I let him borrow it since it has been heating up in Antartica. 😉

Find out more about Lauren at her profile here, and visit Lauren’s website.

And of course be sure to check out the rest of the interviews from the JazzBariSax.com interview series.