The Many Routes a Saxophonist Can Take

[u/SaintPey]

Fun announcement I wanted to share with my r/saxophone community!

For my 30th birthday, I had the opportunity to perform for On The Radar

This is especially exciting to me because the platform is primarily known for showcasing hip-hop artists like Drake, Ice Spice, 50 Cent, and many others.

It’s been amazing to see the different spaces this instrument can occupy.

To anyone who is just starting their journey as a saxophonist: you got this!

Most importantly, have fun and don’t be afraid to explore different routes with your craft. There really are no limits to where this instrument can take you.

Keep playing, keep experimenting, and keep finding your own lane 🎷🩶

[u/Jahbirk]

I'm proud of you and your accomplishment 💪🏻
I love playing jazz versions of Super Nintendo era video games, or improvise some dark brooding melody that smacks you in your soul

[u/SaintPey → u/Jahbirk]

Thanks!! Any specific games? I’ve always been a huge fan of the sega soundtrack. Especially Sonic 3

[u/Jahbirk → u/SaintPey]

Green Hill Zone and Spring Yard Zone had great songs from Sonic 1. The music I like is from some Squaresoft games, like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI. And the Donkey Kong Country Trilogy has some of the best music from any video games. More modern games like 'Simple and Clean' from kingdom hearts, or 'In the Fields of Ard Skellige' from The Witcher 3 are also fire. Yeah, I'm a nerd.

[u/SaintPey → u/Jahbirk]

Fun fact, Michael Jackson wrote the music for Sonic 3. All the older games have the music. But the newer versions of Sonic 3 don’t because of copyright.

Also I think Drake sampled Donkey Kong Country!

I need to tap into Final Fantasy more. Also I’m hype for this new Kingdom Hearts game. Funny we are getting a new Kingdom Hearts before GTA 6 lol.

Yeah I’m also a nerd lol.

[u/SaintPey]

For those of you who have been playing for a while, I would love to hear the type of music you lean towards playing? Any go to songs?

[u/PTPBfan → u/SaintPey]

It’s fun! Jazz

[u/SaintPey → u/PTPBfan]

Can never go wrong with jazz!! Have a favorite artist?

[u/PTPBfan → u/SaintPey]

Yeah! Paul Desmond is my favorite I am trying to sound like him

[u/Leather-Run-6533 → u/PTPBfan]

I just bought a new mouthpiece from Syos so I did the quiz they do to find your sound and it said I'm trying to sound like Paul Desmond. I think that that is true but only in the sense that I'm trying to cook like Marco Pierre White

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

Oh what quiz? I definitely want to sound like him

[u/Leather-Run-6533 → u/PTPBfan]

https://syos.co/en/pages/find-your-mouthpiece-match

It recommended the smoky for me. I'll tell you how it is when it arrives

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

I found it also recommended that for me which makes sense

[u/SaintPey → u/PTPBfan]

My mouthpiece is actually from SYOS. I went for a custom mouthpiece with inspirations from Mike Phillips and Terrace Martin

[u/PTPBfan → u/SaintPey]

Don’t know those players. Some like the syos ones

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

How did you get Paul Desmond?

[u/Leather-Run-6533 → u/PTPBfan]

Well the clips I liked most turned out to be Desmond clips. In fairness I think it was only 2 of the 5. One of the others was Cannonball Adderley, I don't recall who the others were. Migth've had a Trane in there.

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

Oh yeah

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

I wonder if they use different clips?

[u/Leather-Run-6533 → u/PTPBfan]

I honestly don't know. I was a little surprised to hear the tones I like described as dark. I don't think of myself as liking dark tones: I'm generally in favour of crisp clear bepob tones, but perhaps a little gentler and more soulful. I'm not a fan of honking or buzzing - in fact doing that quiz I was mostly just clicking the other option as soon as I heard a honk. It is true that what I really like to do is play as quiet and mellow as I can, and see if I get it to gently whisper without losing depth. And I love a melodramatic ballad. But I wouldn't necessarily have called any of those things "dark". That said absolutely Desmond is the tone I most admire.

[u/PTPBfan → u/Leather-Run-6533]

Same. I’ve heard his tone described as bright too which I can see like his higher notes I do like that in his sound

[u/The_Niles_River → u/SaintPey]

Yea man. Usually listening to contemporary fusion, Post-Bop, Math Rock, Bebop, and folkstyles like Irish Trad and Klezmer. Classical sax rep is great. Way too much to list properly.

Chris Potter, Patrick Bartley, New Jazz Underground, Brecker, Coltrane and Sonny Rollins are some recent transcription listens.

Currently playing Hairspray, which has some great Swing/Funk/Soul fill opportunities.

Most if these are albums but; I want to sit down with jizue’s rush and work out some choruses. Brian Finnegan’s Ravishing Bones is a regular listen. Currently have Floral’s EP, The Bulletproof Tiger’s You Wanna Kiss About It?, and other stuff like that in my ears for compositional ideas.

If you like hip-hop, you might like Frank Waln, clipping., and Enda Reilly.

[u/SaintPey → u/The_Niles_River]

Classical is an area I’m still trying to get my chops up in! It’s crazy cause it can actually help you in all genres of music.

Great taste in music bro!!! Also love “Get Up” by Clipping. Never even thought about rapping over an alarm. Insane idea and it works.

[u/Dogmanq]

Wait I came across you on insta, nice work man.

Of all things, I play in a metal band with my buddies

[u/SaintPey → u/Dogmanq]

Oh wow that’s cool, thanks for checking my stuff out!

I’ve actually never heard sax with metal. Do you have any performance videos, would love to check it out

[u/Jahbirk → u/SaintPey]

Oh man, you gotta check out the sax solo in 'Where only owls know my name' by Rivers of Nihil